Former Zimbabwe national teams General Manager Wellington Mpandare says referees in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) must do more to protect Yadah Stars forward Khama Billiat from rough tackles by opponents as his presence on the pitch boots the profile of the league.
Billiat suffered a calf injury when the Miracle Boys lost to Simba Bhora last week and had to be taken off just before halftime.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2024/04/11/mpandare-referees-should-protect-billiat-for-the-benefit-of-the-league/">Soccer24</a>, Mpandare, who reportedly played a key role in convincing Billiat to return home from South Africa, said Simba Bhora players were instructed to hurt Billiat.
He insisted that match officials should protect Billiat, saying his thriving benefits the local premiership. Said Mpandare:
<blockquote>
Khama (Billiat) is a brand, in the past years, fans have not been attending games but since he joined Yadah, he has attracted a lot of fans back to the stadiums as witnessed at Hwange (vs Hwange), Mutare (vs Bikita Min), Bulawayo (vs Bulawayo Chiefs) and Harare when Yadah played Dynamos and Simba.
Against Dynamos, more than five thousand fans were turned away because of gate entrance issues, Khama had more fans seated in the City end bay compared to Dynamos fans in the Vietnam end.
It was Khama who attracted most of the fans including Dynamos fans because against Bulawayo Chiefs, Dynamos could not attract even half of the fans with gate entrance issues resolved.
We should take a leaf from Saudi Arabia, who improved their league by attracting top players. In our league, we don’t see the benefit of having players like Khama back.
Case in point, Yadah versus Simba, Simba players were determined to make sure that Khama would not play football again and they almost achieved that, which is sad.
The referee of the day didn’t protect him. Khama was kicked on and off the ball until he got injured. One of the Simba players said he wanted to end Khama’s career. The players, coaches, and referees do not understand the value Khama brings to our league.
The benefits have a ripple effect in our football, good attendances mean referees are paid on time, players are paid on time, PSL, SRC and ZIFA get more and the clubs remain with some money.
Even PSL and the sponsors don’t see the value in Khama, they are not taking advantage of the Khama hype.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Referees Should Protect Billiat For The League To Thrive - Mpandare

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has parted ways with Xolisani Gwesela, Wellington Mpandare, and Wilson Mutekede by mutual termination of contracts.
Gwesela was the Acting Secretary General, Mpandare was the General Manager-National Teams, and Mutekede was the Technical Director.
ZIFA confirmed the development via a press release on Monday night. ZIFA said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to inform all its valued stakeholders and the public that the Association has mutually agreed to part ways with the following employees:
1. Mr Xolisani Gwesela (Acting Secretary General)
2. Mr Wellington Mpandare (General Manager-National Teams)
3. Mr Wilson Mutekede (Technical Director)
The Association would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment throughout the years. We wish them the best in their future endeavours.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZIFA Part Ways With Mpandare, Gwesela And Mutekede

National teams general manager Wellington Mpandare said that there are many footballers born in Europe with Zimbabwean roots who are eager to play for The Warriors.
Mpandare was speaking to <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2023/04/14/reiss-nelson-zimbabwe-remarks-mpandare-responds/">Soccer24</a> while responding to Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson’s remarks about his nationality.
Nelson, born to a British mother and a Zimbabwean father, recently said he is not from Zimbabwe, adding his mother is from Jamaica.
Mpandare, who has over the years tried to persuade the 23-year-old to play for Zimbabwe, said he accepts Nelson’s decision to choose to represent the country where his mother originally came from. He said:
<blockquote>
It’s sad that (Reiss) Nelson chose not to represent Zimbabwe, but life goes on for us.
We would have loved to have him as part of the Warriors, but unfortunately, he chose his mother’s country of birth.
It’s a closed chapter. There are so many players eligible to represent Zimbabwe, and our only prayer is that international football returns soon.
</blockquote>
Several British-born footballers have played for the Warriors in the past few years, among them Tendayi Darikwa, Admiral Muskwe, and Jordan Zemura.
Former and current English Premier Soccer League footballers with Jamaican roots include John Barnes, Raheem Sterling, Rolando Aarons, Danny Rose, Michail Antonio, Troy Deeney, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Ashley Young, Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Adrian Mariappa, Rueben Loftus-Cheek, Leon Bailey, Nathan Redmond, Scott Sinclair and former Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom.
Some of the players named above play for the Jamaican national team while the likes of Walker and Sterling play for the Three Lions.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Warriors Team Manager Responds To Reiss Nelson Zimbabwe Remarks

Warriors general manager <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Wellington_Mpandare">Wellington Mpandare</a> has said <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Marvelous_Nakamba">Marvelous Nakamba</a>‘s loan <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/update-aston-villa-midfielder-marvelous-nakamba-set-to-join-luton-town/">move to Luton Town</a> was “very good” adding that there was more to the midfielder’s departure from Aston Villa than what people see and think.
Nakamba completed a six-month loan move to the English Championship side on the transfer deadline day on Tuesday a move which triggered varying comments. 
Some argue that Nakamba should have chosen EPL side Fulham, and Championship sides West Bromwich Albion and Watford which are said to have tried to make a last-minute move for the Warriors midfielder.
There were also reports suggesting that a number of teams from Belgium, including his former paymasters Club Brugge, made inquiries about the former Bantu Rovers player but it was Luton who offered a better deal.
Mpandare believes the 29-year-old has made the right decision by moving to the second-tier side who are fighting for promotion to the English Premier League (EPL). He told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/sport/article/200006877/nakamba-lauded-for-luton-move">NewsDay</a>:
<blockquote>
It’s a very good move for Marve, which has got my full blessing.
There is more to this move than what people see and think. Unfortunately, I cannot divulge all the details to the Press, but people should know that Marve made a brilliant move in terms of his career development and of course for his personal life.
This is a chance for him to restart his career. For some reason, things were not moving well for him at Villa so this is a chance for him to get some game time which is the most important thing for a footballer and to market himself. His talents are undoubted and it’s just a matter of time before Villa or another league team realizes and get him. He still has a lot to offer and I’m sure he will do well.
</blockquote>
Luton are currently 4th in the Championship log standings and if they maintain their position until the end of the season, they would have secured a playoff spot for promotion to the Premier League.
Nakamba has also said he is happy to be at Luton Town where he will link up with Henri Lansbury from Aston Villa, Ethan Horvath whom he played with at Club Brugge and fellow countryman Admiral Muskwe, who has been recalled from his loan spell at Sky Bet League One side Fleetwood Town. 
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

"There Is More To Nakamba's Aston Villa Exit Than What People See" Mpandare

US-based and UK-based Warriors defenders, in that order, Teenage Hadebe and Brendan Galloway have arrived in Ghana where they joined their compatriots ahead of Saturday’s 2020 World Cup qualifier match against Ghana.
There were concerns over the availability of the duo for Saturday’s match after they encountered some logistical glitches. Hadebe missed his flight and several attempts for him to fly to the West African country were fruitless while Galloway had problems being cleared to enter Ghana. 
Galloway arrived last night while Hadebe joined his teammates this morning. Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare confirmed the duo are now in Ghana. He said:
<blockquote>
Galloway arrived last night and Hadebe has jetted in this morning. They will be training with the rest of the squad in the afternoon and everything is looking fine.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe take on the Black Stars on Saturday at the Cape Coast Stadium in the first of their back-to-back battles whose return leg will be played at the National Sports Stadium on Tuesday. 
The Warriors who have one point after sharing spoils with South Africa and losing to Ethiopia are looking for a win to revive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup that will be hosted by Qatar next year.
More: <a href="https://ztn.co.zw/stream/2021/10/hadebe-galloway-arrive-in-ghana/">ZTN</a>

Galloway, Hadebe Arrive In Ghana For World Cup Qualifier Match

ZIFA has appointed Wellington Mpandare the new general manager. This was revealed by the association itself in the following statement that stated the responsibilities of the new general manager:
<blockquote>13 OCTOBER 2020 ZIFA APPOINTS MPANDARE AS GENERAL MANAGER – NATIONAL TEAMS
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has appointed Mr Wellington Mpandare as the General Manager for all national teams on a three-year contract.
The position comes with huge responsibilities which the board felt match the experience possessed by Mpandare, who has served in almost similar capacity in the past. Mpandare was the team manager for the senior men’s team when the Warriors qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, and he was also in the same position when the locally based Warriors secured a place at the 2021 African Nations Championship.
Apart from the usual responsibilities of the team manager of the Warriors, Mpandare will also be responsible for all logistical and welfare issues for all other national teams. He will work hand in glove with team managers of the other teams to improve the organisational aspects around national team games.
We would like to wish Mpandare all the best in his new secretariat position which teams him up with a dedicated group which has been doing some of the duties he will assume. The executive committee has great faith in his ability to execute his duties well to support the association’s long-term goals.
For and on behalf of the Zimbabwe Football Association: Xolisani Gwesela Communications &amp; Competitions Manager 
www.zifa.org.zw 
+263 0242 704624
<img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-184561 size-full" decoding="async" height="2560" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1809px) 100vw, 1809px" src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-scaled.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-scaled.jpg 1809w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-212x300.jpg 212w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-724x1024.jpg 724w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-768x1087.jpg 768w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-1085x1536.jpg 1085w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-1447x2048.jpg 1447w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ZIFA-Wellington-Mpandare-Appointment-1320x1868.jpg 1320w" width="1809"/></blockquote>

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