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HUMILITY is a virtue that seems to lack in the gentlemen running Zimbabwe football. They appear to be a bunch of self-seeking individuals who do not care about the game today and its future as long as they hold on to their positions. The game is all about the players and the owners who are the men and women who pay hard earned cash to watch matches.
Recent developments at Zifa have left the nation angry. That a team could go with just 12 players to an important assignment is a sure sign that all is not well at Zifa.
Last week’s scenario is similar to the one in 1985 when Gibson Homela travelled as manager of the national team to the Cecafa tournament with 12 players. One of the players was injured forcing Homela to take to the field almost three years after he had hung up his boots. It was because of an appalling piece of administration that the trip was bungled.
Last week Zimbabwe were set to leave mid week with almost 35 people. The number because of funding challenges was cut down to 24. When all seemed set last week another blow struck the Warriors camp when Zifa were advised that only 14 people could proceed beyond Senegal to Guinea because of limited seats on the flight.
We knew as a country that we would be playing Guinea over a year ago. That required planning and bookings could have been made in advance rather than soil the image of the country.
Schools of thought that this is akin to matchfixing for Guinea would not be so wild. The winner in the ensuing confusion was bound to be the hosts on Sunday, Guinea, who were praying for a negative result for Egypt in Mozambique with a win to keep them in the picture for the World Cup final qualifying round.
If Egypt had lost in Mozambique, they would have cried foul over Zimbabwe’s failure to send a full team. The trend has always been that the manager keeps all the players’ passports. Hardlife Zvirekwi lost his in Kenya at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. He could not proceed to Guinea and that left Zifa with two goalkeepers and nine in-field players.
One of them was in goal with the other playing inside.
Zimbabwe football has never sunk so low. We demand heads to roll at Zifa. The most humble thing to do would just be to step down and let more astute leaders to take over.
What is even shocking is that in all this confusion which has been going on for years, Cuthbert Dube and Ndumiso Gumede still want to run for another term.
Their quality has been noted and that of their fellow councillors. There is no hope for the future of the game with these people who have presided over our game since 2010.
Blundering has become part of their every day lives and seem content to stifle debate by banning those with divergent views.
The national team debacle must have been the last straw for Zimbabweans who have watched in disgust these administrators decimate the Warriors brand.
This cannot continue and the Sport and Recreation Commission should dissolve Zifa.
Yes, Government interference, perhaps a Fifa ban would see us correct mistakes of the past decade. We already have our Under-17 and Under-20s out of international competitions because of this Zifa and what gains are there when the heart and soul of the future of national teams is kept out of action for exposure.
The nation wants answers as a matter of urgency.
Online Reporter