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Lovemore Dube in BULAWAYO
FORMER ZIFA president Vincent Pamire has called on football stakeholders to respect the football ecosystem and allow everyone who is interested to participate in the elections to choose a new substantive leadership for the association.
His call comes at a time when ZIFA delegates will take part in the annual meeting on Friday.
There are proposals for some changes to the constitution, including inserting a clause that bars those without a minimum of five O-Level passes from running for the office of president and vice-presidents of ZIFA.
Pamire feels elections should be for everyone, including all the Councillors who will vote for the ZIFA executive.
“Football is a people’s game. I don’t understand why there are conceited efforts to shut out those who know the game like former players,” said Pamire.
“It is no secret many were not talented academically, others were but chose football for various reasons like escaping poverty, wrong circle of friends, we cannot today crucify them.
“They have to have a hand in the development of the game. Respect the soccer ecosystem and allow everyone to participate.
“Soccer was there before we came on board and left, it shall always be there. It has got its own network that works and it has to be respected.
“It worked before and we branded Zimbabwe football, we got the world to respect who we are in the game. Why try to invent the wheel?”
Pamire said some kingmakers have over the years messed up the game for selfish interests.
“These are selfish greedy individuals who have gotten us into this mess where our football has been run by a Normalisation Committee.
“We risk the danger of staying in murky waters if we do not get real and make decisions that grow the game and industry.
“Already some candidates are being milked.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter