admin
Bruce Chikuni, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE football legends Cephas Chimedza, Tapuwa Kapini, and Willard Katsande have added their voices to simmering outrage over a clause in the proposed ZIFA constitution demanding that presidential candidates must hold at least five O-level passes or equivalent qualifications.
The ZIFA Congress is expected to converge in Harare on October 18 to deliberate on and adopt an amended constitution for the association.
It is based on the amended constitution that the next ZIFA elections, tentatively set for January 2025.
But as the ZIFA councillors prepare to gather at Mana Resort to ratify the amendments, with the assistance of the FIFA and the Sports and Recreation Commission legal experts, the clause on O-Level requirements has reportedly created a lot of unease in the domestic football family.
The requirement is seen as targeted at former players, some of whom would want to contest the polls.
And yesterday the former Warriors trio Chimedza, Kapini, and Katsande expressed their outrage at the proposal.
The trio told Zimpapers Sports Hub in separate interviews that the requirement was outrageous and not in sync with the bid to have an inclusive environment in the ZIFA administration.
It has emerged that the clause was initially proposed for every Congress delegate before it was whittled down to just the presidential and vice-president candidates.
The former players believe the move is aimed at side-lining them from the onset.
“The president and the two vice-presidents of the executive committee shall have passed a minimum of five O-Levels subjects (Education level) or any equivalent educational level.
“Two vice-presidents (1st vice-president and 2nd vice-president), at least one of whom shall be a woman,” reads part of the proposed statutes.
Belgian-based Chimedza, who played for Dynamos and CAPS United and featured for the Warriors at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, called the proposal a “joke.”
He highlighted potential pitfalls.
“This is ridiculous, we have numerous successful and respected individuals in various fields without five O-levels.
“It’s time Zimbabwe recognises this.
“If Members of Parliament, who shape our country’s future and represent the will of the people, are not required to have such qualifications, why impose them on former footballers?” questioned Chimedza.
“What if we don’t find an interested woman with these qualifications? Why deny capable leaders the opportunities to shape our football due to an outdated academic benchmark?” he said.
Kapini, the only active player from Highlanders’ 2006 Castle Lager Premiership-winning team also spoke out against the proposed clause.
The veteran goalkeeper currently playing for Highlands Park in South Africa’s lower league argued that academics were not the only benchmark to good leadership.
“This is unacceptable, as it appears to target former footballers. We’re not ashamed to acknowledge they’re the victims,” Kapini said.
“I don’t understand why those qualifications matter in running football. Look at what Desmond Maringwa has done with FUZ (Footballers Union of Zimbabwe), helping footballers with the help of other former players like Thomas Sweswe and the late Norman Maroto.
“We need former footballers in the picture to make Zimbabwe a respected football nation,” Kapimi said.
Kaizer Chiefs legend Katsande who captained the Warriors at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon expressed disbelief with the proposal, which he feels should be scrapped and level the playing field.
“This can’t be true. Administrators and former footballers must co-exist at the top level.”
“The notion is too harsh on former footballers, many of whom succeeded despite poor academic grades due to their passion for football.
“It’s wrong for those who succeeded academically to shut doors on those who made it through football, considering many of us prioritised football over academics,” Katsande said.
Online Reporter