Battle for NRFA positions starts

Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) goes to polls next year and battle for positions has already started.

Kaporo Stars owner Dikoni Chipanga Banda has expressed interest to contest for the position of NRFA chairperson.

Chipanga said his focus is to bring sanity in the NRFA Simama League once elected.

He said the current leadership is failing to manage the league to its required standards.

“I have seen that the current leadership leaves a lot to be desired as far as administering football is concerned. There is a lot of mess on the way they are running the Premier League. They are even failing to secure good referees to officiate the games.

“Teams are worrying. My coming will end that. I will also make sure that teams participating in the Premier League should be those that are champions at district level,” he said.

Chipanga also promised to uplift the welfare of players.

He faulted the current leadership for not putting good systems to improve the welfare of player’s families.

“We don’t have systems in place that can check the welfare of our players. If elected, I will introduce compulsory players’ welfare fund in clubs,” he said.

Apart from sponsoring Kaporo Stars, Chipanga also supported other Premier League teams such as Mchengautuwa, Karonga United and Ekwendeni Hammers.

Meanwhile, incumbent chairperson Lameck Khonje, who will be seeking a new mandate, welcomed Chipanga’s challenge.

“That is welcome development. We are in a democratic society, and Chipanga is free to express his interest. We need people to come and join the management of football. We need more players brave enough like him. I am ready to face anyone,” he said.

According to NRFA general secretary Alfred Gunda, the date for NRFA elective annual general meeting (AGM) is yet to be decided. n