Veteran former football administrator, Ndumiso Gumede has called for a reduction in the ZIFA presidency nomination fee from $5 000 to an affordable amount to allow credible prospective candidates an opportunity to contest.

Fifa revealed to the media on Tuesday that it had written to Zifa last month confirming the end of its executive committee’s term and ordered that elections be held “as soon as possible”.

The former ZIFA vice president is also advocating for the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) to superintend Zifa’s elections, working closely with domestic football governing body’s secretariat.

Gumede, who once served Zifa as chief executive officer and vice-president said: “Even now Fifa have made a terrible blunder by saying Chiyangwa must hold on until elections are held. A little bit of fault should be directed to SRC (Sports and Recreation Commission).

“I know I’m treading on dangerous ground, but SRC has a responsibility to oversee these things and they knew about this problem way back. When I complained about Chiyangwa’s incompetence two years ago I was banned. The SRC must take control; they’ve done well by communicating with Fifa and getting direct feedback from Fifa.”

Focusing on the impending Zifa polls, Gumede said apart from scrapping off exorbitant nomination fees, the old guard in Zifa’s structures should not seek re-election.

“We should have competent people at the bottom and not these old men and incompetent persons slightly older than me that are still at Zifa. Let’s let bygones be bygones; let’s start on a fresh page; let’s create a new dispensation.

“If we can disqualify people who’ve been there for more than two terms for instance – I know there are people like Chishanga (Brian) in Midlands; he has been there indefinitely. I found him there and I left him there, but he still continues to be there. Let us try to have new people. My old man Mpuli (David, Zifa Mashonaland East chairman) is still there. They’ve overstayed their time. I don’t know whether they don’t have the Ndebele idiom ‘kusinwa kudedelwana’ (give others a chance). Even if you are a champion, get out and let someone come and dance (because) it’s their turn. This is the only way to encourage young people to come in and make very good councillors,” Gumede said.