D-Day for Zim football beckons

Sport
IT’S exactly six days before the country goes to the much-awaited Zifa elections set for December 5 in Harare.

IT’S exactly six days before the country goes to the much-awaited Zifa elections set for December 5 in Harare.

By Brian Nkiwane

The onus to choose the office bearers to lead the country’s most followed sport for the next two years lies with the Zifa councillors, some of whom have decided to run for positions in the new board.

Standardsport takes a look at each candidate, their views, aims and objectives as outlined in their manifestos. The new board will replace the Cuthbert Dube-led team which was shown the exit door recently.

Phillip Chiyangwa Quote: “I have to be the Messiah. All I want is to save the situation. When things get right, I leave. I would want 90 days to service all the debts that the association has. Furthermore, I would want to use the two years that I will be in charge to try and knock on the CAF and Fifa [doors]. I know if we get posts there, things will improve in this country.”

Chiyangwa’s manifesto speaks on intention to revive Five-Aside football and beach football in the country.

Chiyangwa also promises to revamp the standards of refereeing as well as coaching for national teams, while he emphasises on the need to take advantage of Zimbabwe’s untapped talent in the Diaspora.

The biggest question is, will he be able to deliver on all these promises?

Trevor Carelse Juul Quote: “We certainly have the talent to become a powerhouse in Africa, but it will require the efforts of all stakeholders. I watched the last Warriors match against Guinea and I was impressed by the character shown by our boys. With such talent, I have no doubt we could qualify for the World Cup if managed properly.”

A former Zifa boss, Juul will always be remembered as the mastermind behind the Dream Team that captured the imagination of the Zimbabwe football family in the early 90s.

Juul is a serious contender for the Zifa top post and brings with him an air of romanticism as well as a wealth of experience. He is preaching the gospel of bringing the Dream Team reality with his 10-point plan. Major highlights of his 10-point plan include creating a philosophy of good corporate governance through football structures, giving clubs a bigger revenue share of the income generated, as well as amending part of the Zifa constitution to be inclusive.

Leslie Gwindi Quote: “There is no football where there is no development. We need to bring back that transparency and show the corporate world that we can be trusted with their money. What we need to ensure at this stage is institutional compliance.”

Gwindi also launched his short, but sweet election manifesto in the capital on Tuesday before embarking on a nationwide tour.

A glance at the manifesto shows that Gwindi is keen on institutional compliance.

His previous experience with big institutions such as the Premier Soccer League, Dynamos and of late Harare City gives him undoubted capacity to successfully lead an institution such as Zifa.

James Takavada Quote: “A lot of things have happened at Zifa. However, whatever happened should not be repeated. We must make sure we have a clean game going forward. I know given a chance, I can make Zifa tick again and bring back the old good footballing days.”

The former Soccer Star of the Year has also penned an alluring election manifesto which concentrates on shifting focus from Zifa struggles to football.

Takavada points out the critical need to rebuild public confidence in Zifa and show fans that the institution has football’s best interests at heart. This means a fresh start for Zifa that involves reform in an evolutionary manner and learning lessons to ensure the poor habits of the past are not repeated.

He emphasises on the need to improve transparency, as well as clearly defining and respecting the proper roles and responsibilities of the president, the board, councillors and the administration so that the extent and limit of authority is clear at all levels.

Two candidates, returning vice-chairman Omega Sibanda and Lincoln Mutasa, successfully filed their papers for the vice-president’s post.

Omega Sibanda Sibanda had an unceremonious stint during the Dube era after he was suspended together with board (member finance) Bernard Gwarada and he still believes he has a lot to offer to Zimbabwean football.

“I still have a lot of unfinished business at Zifa. The truth of the matter is I never worked. I never got the chance to do what I know best in football because the system was not allowing.

Sibanda highlighted constitutional breaches during the first board meeting and how he tried to correct them, bringing friction within the board.

Lincoln Mutasa The aspiring vice-president believes it’s not too late to save the sinking Zifa ship.

The former Dynamos chairman has been on football development — World Cup 2022 qualification as well the qualification of the Mighty Warriors for the 2023 World Cup jamboree.

Ten prospective board members successfully filed their papers with only four of them set to make it onto the board.

The president has the mandate to appoint elected board members to respective portfolios.

Felton Kamambo A former player, having played for Mhangura.

Central Region boss, Kamambo was influential in the formation of the region a few years ago. He has been with the Grain Marketing Board since he was 20, and from the stations that he has worked, he has managed to form football teams that would go as far as playing in Division One. There was Kadoma GMB, Murewa Grain Tigers and recently Silo United in Kwekwe.

In his short words, Kamambo said he was comfortable working in any of the four portfolios at Zifa.

“What we want is to bring back discipline, transparency and commitment at Zifa. We have to make sure that clubs benefit from all the grants that Zifa get from Fifa in one way or the other,” Kamambo said.

Edzai Kasinauyo A Warriors legend who has seen it all in terms of football, he has been prominent in the marketing of local talent to other leagues abroad as a player agent.

“I know I have a lot to offer for Zimbabwean football. But it will be for a short while. It’s the experience in football business that one needs to prosper,” Kasinauyo said

Wilfred Mukuna A former referee who many believe is one of the best to have come out of this land, but obviously behind Felix Tangawarima.

Lewis Uriri Veteran lawyer, who has been in football management with the Green Machine.

Joseph Musariri He is a current member of the Zifa Council, as well as chairman of the Beach Soccer Zimbabwe. He was a member of the Zifa finance committee from 2000 to 2010.

He was also a board member for Amazulu Football Club in 1998 to 2003. He played for Border Strikers from 1985 to 1986.

Piraishe Mabhena Eastern Region chairman who has been doing well in his position.

Musa Mandaza The Southern Region chairman who has also been in football for a long time now.

Musa Gwasira He was the owner of Lengthens Football Club which he took from being a boozers team into area zones until they were promoted into the top-flight league. They went on to represent Zimbabwe in the Confederations Cup, only to be booted out in the first round. He was also a member of the PSL board of governors from 2010 to 2012 and was appointed fixture secretary.

Gwasira said: “I have great ideas that will see the game of football developing from grassroots level. We are in an era where councils are moving slowly into football, so this route has to be followed.”

Philemon Machana He is the man behind Conduit Women Football Club and is a current member of the Zifa Trust.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with councillors in Gweru last week, Machana said he was open to work with anyone for the development of the game.

“I do not want to be paddocked. I do not have an alliance with anyone and I am open to work with anyone who wins the election,” he said.

Jackson Munyaka A football administrator who has been in this game for a while. ‘