BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC)’s board has rewarded veteran administrator Givemore Makoni for presiding over the recovery of the game in the country after he was appointed as the substantive MD of the organisation on Thursday.
Makoni held the same post in an acting capacity for the past two years after taking over from Pakistani-born administrator Faisal Hasnain in September 2018.
Hasnain, credited with ZC’s improved financial situation then, officially resigned citing the national cricket team’s failure to qualify for the 2019 ICC World Cup in May 2018.
Four months later Makoni was named ZC’s new MD in an acting capacity and has been in thick of things as Zimbabwe cleared the legacy debts and recently started the revamp of domestic cricket.
“The Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) board of directors has appointed Givemore Makoni as the organisation’s substantive managing director. His appointment was unanimously endorsed by the board during its virtual meeting held on Thursday,” ZC said in a statement.
“Makoni, who turns 46 this December, has been serving in an acting capacity since 1 September 2018. He assumed the reins at a time the future of cricket in Zimbabwe looked bleak, with ZC buffeted by legacy debts and battling for survival.
“Over the past two years, Makoni has, however, successfully spearheaded a restructuring exercise designed to address ZC’s perennial viability challenges and to forge a sustainable financial and cricket future.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“He was at the forefront of implementing an intricate debt resolution plan, which ultimately saw ZC paying off debts amounting to US$27 million that had been choking the organisation,” the statement added.
ZC announced six months ago that they were nearing financial stability having managed to nearly pay off legacy debts amounting to US$27 million.
With Makoni as acting MD, ZC has been vigorously reviving its cricket structures, with the launch of an elite national club competition, the National Premier League, as well as two women’s inter-provincial tournaments, the Fifty50 Challenge and the Women’s T20 Cup, being among the highlights.
All the above-mentioned domestic competitions were successfully staged between October and December this year.
Makoni holds a Bachelor of Science Honours in Sport Science and Management degree.
The administrator rose to national prominence when he in 1990 co-founded Takashinga Cricket Club, Zimbabwe’s first black cricket club which has gone on to produce lots of national team players.
“After playing club cricket in Zimbabwe and England, he left his job with a local bank to join the then Mashonaland Cricket Association as its general manager.
“His administration experience also includes successful stints as chief executive officer at Southern Rocks and Mountaineers franchises before he was elevated to the ZC executive as the director for development and club cricket and later head of cricket affairs.
“Over the years, he has also served as the Zimbabwe national team manager and convener of selectors. With the hardworking and visionary Makoni now confirmed as the substantive managing director, ZC can only look forward to an exciting future,” ZC said.
