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Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo community snubbed the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) public hearing on the state and administration of football in Zimbabwe held at the Bulawayo Polytechnic on Saturday with less than 20 people attending. The open inquiry was held a day after the SRC committee led by board member Obadiah Moyo had met key figures, who included administrators, behind closed doors.
Moyo’s committee, which includes former Hockey Association of Zimbabwe president Farai Kanyangarara, Miriam Mushayi and Jessie Nyakatawa, is expected to submit its report to the full board by July 31.
Despite the low public attendance, Moyo is content with the engagement that they had.
“The turnout was low but the engagement was very rich. The concerns we got from the general public was how messed up football is, but they couldn’t divulge more since they’re not part of the administrative system. That insight on how football is being administered and some of the concerns raised by the public was brought to our attention during closed sessions. I can safely say that the closed sessions were successful as those we invited gave us lots of insight,” Moyo said.
Among those who attended closed sessions were Zifa board members, councillors and Zifa affiliates, who include the Premier Soccer League, National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash), National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) and the Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League.
Participants at the public hearing felt that the government should play a bigger role to change the football landscape, both in terms of funding national teams and crafting policies that will attract the corporate world for funding.
They submitted that there were too many service charges, which gobbled up much of the little income clubs generated through gate takings, posing a threat to their existence.
Some of the service charges the public cited include police hiring, ground rentals and other levies clubs are forced to fork out.
They also bemoaned the absence of performance yardsticks for administrators.
“The public hearings are meant to get holistic versions and try to come up with lasting football solutions. People might not be willing to attend these (public hearings) but we remain confident that through these engagements, we’ll be able to come up with lasting solutions,” said Moyo.
The Zifa leadership under Cuthbert Dube has been characterised by board squabbles.
National teams have been neglected due to the perpetual infighting within the national association.
Dube’s governance of the national game has been heavily criticised, particularly after he purged those who dared question his leadership.
The nation is hoping the SRC will, after its investigations, bring sanity to the beleaguered Zifa and the sport.
Online Reporter