Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube
FORMER Highlanders vice-chairman Modern Ngwenya has pleaded with the football family to bury the hatchet and unite for the sake of the game.
Ngwenya said ahead of the Zifa annual general meeting set for three weeks’ time, it was imperative for those who make decisions to think about what they can give the game rather than what they can get from it.
“It is important to re-evaluate as individuals where football has to go. There will soon be a meeting where crucial decisions will be made regarding the future of the game. Is the meeting within the confines of the constitution or it’s another illegality to be fought some day?
“Do people whose terms expired long back have the mandate to determine the future of the game?” queried Ngwenya. The Normalisation Committee has set 18 October as the date of the annual general meeting and a number of resolutions are expected to be made.
A majority are on the elections due to be held in January which should see Zimbabwe football returned to its owners after three years of turmoil, two of which have been under the Zifa Normalisation Committee.
The Normalisation Committee came into effect to cover the gulf left by the suspension of the Felton Kamambo board in 2022.
Ngwenya suggested that any future processes involving people whose terms expired alongside Kamambo’s could attract a legal battle.
“We have to explore and find each other for the benefit of the local game in Zimbabwe. But something which attracts a legal challenge should be addressed early,” said Ngwenya.
Councillors who were part of the Kamambo Assembly have been invited to the meeting to adopt changes to the Zifa constitution under which elections shall be held.
“When we look at the constitution or electoral pathways, let’s be objective and do what is best for the game. Let us not use the document to eliminate others and leave ourselves unchallenged. Let anyone who passes the integrity test stand, demanding O-levels and other things may be viewed as a deliberate way to eliminate certain members of the local game. The football ecosystem is diverse and we must ensure it is an open exercise for anyone to contest whenever there is an election,” said Ngwenya.
He noted that football in the past knew its own sons and daughters and there were no electoral features that were discriminatory.
“We all knew who belonged to the football family and ecosystem and no one was eliminated by technicalities,” said Ngwenya.
“Let us leave no one behind. Let who the people want regardless of his education level or bank balance stand for election.”
He encouraged people to be cautious with the whole exercise and VOTE FOOTBALL.
“Let the guys go out there and vote football. It should not be people who want something from the game but guys who want to give back to the sport. Let us get servants to run the game, people who will invest time to get someone’s daughter and son to be a better professional footballer in a good environment that promotes meritocracy at all levels. There should be value for the dollar for those who pay or sponsor,” said Ngwenya.
Online Reporter