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Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
After toiling in the lower divisions of local football, dedicating his time to football development, Ali Sundowns owner Desmond Ali believes it is now time that he takes his expertise to the next level as he is ready to serve the country.
His decision to run for a board member position in the local football motherboard, ZIFA, has coincided with the fruition of a project that started 20 years’ back.
Ali’s team, Ali Sundowns, finally got promoted into the ZIFA Northern Region Division 1 for the 2025 season last week.
And the veteran sports administrator believes now is the time that he serves on the ZIFA board.
“In respect of my aspirations to be a ZIFA board member, I believe I have served football for a long time, and I am qualified. I’m experienced in a number of things. I am experienced in finance, I am experienced in football development through the structures that I have built through Ali Sundowns, and I am experienced in marketing.
“I believe I’ve got so much to offer, and I believe I’ve done a lot for football, and I can do more. I need to do it nationally so that my impact is felt at the Africa level,” said Ali.
Ali revealed that since the formation of Ali Sundowns more than 20 years ago, he has been involved in football from grassroots development to sourcing of football sponsorship.
He believes Zimbabwean football has what it takes to attract corporates only if proper structures are put in place.
Ali has been credited with securing sponsorship deals for two of Zimbabwe’s footballing giants, Dynamos and Highlanders, and the Super-8 tournament with BancABC.
“We need to bring the corporates back, but the corporates can only come back when we show that we are serious, when we are clear about the product that we are selling them.
“Sponsorship is a mutually beneficial relationship, the massive value. What are we offering? What product are we offering? And we need to move away from the thinking that we are just selling a football match.
“We need to sell them an experience that is beyond the 90 minutes at the stadium.
“I have demonstrated what can be done through the structures; by bringing a team from division three to division one, I have demonstrated what can be done when you work with corporates,” said Ali.
Despite having been involved in grassroots development for more than two decades, Ali has prepared to back Jadel Football Academy owner and founder Walter Musanhu for the role of development in the new ZIFA board.
“I think, whilst I have done development, I think there are other candidates that I believe should be doing development.
“I have been in place with other guys that I think should be doing that. I probably feel my young brother, Walter Musanhu, is a good candidate for development,” said Ali.
Online Reporter