Former Jomo Cosmos striker Benjani Mwaruwari has taken his fight for the inclusion into the list of presidential candidates for the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Mwaruwari was excluded from the final list of candidates to contest for the ZIFA top seat when the Normalisation Committee, led by Lincoln Mutasa, published it on December 23, ahead of the January 25 elections, saying he is not eligible.
Having written to ZIFA to demand why he was excluded, Mwaruwari sought legal redress at CAS, who have now communicated to ZIFA and FIFA to notify them of the former Manchester City striker’s appeal.
CAS wants the ZIFA to submit a statement of defence, any defence or lack of jurisdiction, as well as any exhibits of evidence they (ZIFA) intend to rely on during the hearing.
Why was Mwaruwari barred from the polls?
ZIFA’s reasons to bar Mwaruwari were not made public but according to Zimbabwean outlet Soccer24, the former national team skipper failed the eligibility test because he does not have a minimum of five Ordinary Level passes.
“Benjani (Mwaruwari) does not have 5 O’ Level passes so he submitted his UEFA A as an alternative,” a source told Soccer24.
“Also, the fact that he is currently studying for a coaching degree makes him somewhat overqualified, if the new ZIFA constitution is anything to go by, so he does have a case.”
ZIFA’s new constitution demands that candidates seeking the position of president and vice president must have a minimum of five O’ Level passes but it is also clear on an equivalent educational level being used as an alternative, as was the case when Mwaruwari submitted his UEFA A coaching certificate.
Ex-striker spent more years in SA & England
Both ZIFA and Mwaruwari will now be keeping their fingers crossed as CAS has the powers to annul the decision or refer the case back to the Normalisation Committee.
Mwaruwari started his career at Jomo Cosmos in 1999, getting named PSL Player of the Season and PSL Players' Player of the Season, before moving to Europe in 2001, first on loan at Swiss club Grasshoppers, after which he signed for French side Auxerre followed by stints in England.
He played for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers before returning to South Africa in 2012 to join Chippa United and then Bidvest Wits. Mwaruwari scored 10 goals in 42 games for the Warriors.
