adminPetros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
FORMER Zimbabwe international Alois Bunjira’s profile as an administrator continues to grow with the CAPS United marketing executive being roped in among key speakers at a Winter sports management camp for sports leaders in Matopos, Bulawayo, at the end of the month.
Bunjira, who has also ventured into the sports media, is one of the few former Warriors players who have diverted from the tradition of coaching after their playing days.
The dreadlocked former CAPS United and Bidvest Wits winger will make a presentation on career pathways during the during the unique management camp, organised by the Sports Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe from July 24-26.
Bunjira has been majoring in electronic sports media for both radio and television growing into one of the authoritative voices on domestic football.
Russell Mhiribidi, SLIZ director, said yesterday that Bunjira will join the likes of Sebastian Garikai, microbiologist Kudzai Vera and a speaker from the Olympic Youth development Centre in Zambia among the presenters.
Mhiribidi also expressed satisfaction with the uptake of slots for the camp by companies, universities, associations, agricultural colleges who are sending their sports directors as well as primary and secondary schools.
The camp also recently received the endorsement of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, Zone VI with its general manager Stanley Mutoya describing it as a potential game changer in regional sports administration.
Mhiribidi said it was important for the sports leaders to understand that turning around the fortunes of national sport would not be an overnight event and there was need for the administrators to find a platform where they can brainstorm and thrash out possible solutions to the challenges being faced across the board.
“Most of the participants have confirmed and we are ready to get going. NAPSH and NASH have supported us very well and basically we feel that change in our sporting landscape is not going to be an event but a process which we as SLIZ feel should take place in a free environment where there are no accusations.
“We feel most of the negative issues in our sport stem from personal allegations that can be resolved on a round table’’.
Mhiribidi reckoned that Zimbabwe had a host of capable of sports administrators across the different disciplines but the majority of them were shying away from taking charge because of the numerous conflicts that have been blighting the running of the various associations.
“We note with concern that some of the sports administrators who can take us to a better level are shying away for fear of having their names dragged into the mud because the negative issues.
“Everyone, including the media, the government and the administrators should have some plenary sessions to find solutions. As SLIZ we are not saying we have the solutions but we are playing our part in finding those solutions. We believe that as long as we are fragmented and divided our sport will not progress.
“But we believe there is light at the end of the tunnel and as long as we make professionalism and efficiency our tenets Zimbabwean sport will go places. The good thing is we are a sport loving country,’’ Mhiribidi said.
SLIZ is a body whose mission is to facilitate and provide a conducive environment for optimum growth and advancement of the national sports leaders with emphasis being put on a capacity building, professional development that is in line with global trends.
Bunjira’s discussion on career pathways is likely to excite a number of schools and tertiary institutions’ representatives given that he also played the professional game and featured for the junior national teams while still at school before breaking later breaking into the Warriors.
Online Reporter