Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ON January 25, Nqobile Magwizi’s ZIFA executive committee clocked one year since being ushered into office.
And yesterday, just two days after the first anniversary of their leadership, they were back right in the same auditorium at Rainbow Towers where they were elected into office.
But the occasion this time was different.
Yesterday they were in the auditorium to launch a milestone that has blown away many football stakeholders including the Government and fellow sports organisations.
Magwizi, his deputies Kenny Ndebele and Loveness Mukura and their committee have pulled off one of the most significant achievements for not only football, but the entire sporting fraternity after they became the first football association to partner with the International Centre for Sports Studies for an international management programme to be staged in this country.
The partnership, virtually a match made in heaven, also includes world football governing body FIFA and the Midlands State University.
For good measure, Zimbabwe has become only the fourth African country after Egypt, Senegal and South Africa to have to have this programme.
ZIFA, to their credit, are the first sporting association to directly partner with FIFA for the CIES program in Africa.
And the Government, through the Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Emily Jesaya, who was the Guest of Honour, was full of praise for the epoch-changing initiative.
“This is not merely the launch of an academic programme. It is the formal unveiling of a long-term investment in the future of leadership, governance and credibility of Zimbabwean sport,’’ Jesaya said.
She urged various sports administrators including officers from her Ministry to apply for the programme whose registration opens today, albeit for a limited and professionally controlled number of 30 participants annually and which will begin in April and end in December.
Magwizi told guests of the significance of the CIES programme which comes after ZIFA had last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MSU for the development of the game and capacitation of its administrators.
“The FIFA CIES International Programme in Sports Management is globally recognised as one of the most respected pathways for developing capable, ethical and forward-thinking sports administrators.
“Since its establishment, it has been delivered across multiple continents through a select international university network, producing thousands of graduates who now occupy leadership roles in football and sport worldwide,’’ Magwizi said.
“By bringing this programme to Zimbabwe, we are connecting our administrators, our institutions and our ambitions to a truly global standard of excellence.
“For ZIFA, this programme speaks directly to our strategic direction. Over the past period, we have been clear that the future of football in Zimbabwe depends not only on talent on the pitch but also on competence off it. Strong clubs, sustainable leagues, credible competitions and trusted institutions are built by people who understand governance, finance, marketing, communication, law and event management in equal measure. This programme addresses all of those pillars in a structured, rigorous and practical way.
“Importantly, this initiative is not a concept. It is delivery.
“Last year, ZIFA and Midlands State University signed a Memorandum of Understanding grounded in a shared belief that education is infrastructure. That MoU committed both institutions to collaborate in delivering world-class learning programmes that would build the capacity and capabilities of sports administrators in Zimbabwe and beyond.
“Today, through this FIFA CIES programme, we are honouring that commitment. We are translating words into action and intent into impact.” He paid tribute to MSU for playing a key role in applied professional education.
“I want to commend Midlands State University for its leadership and vision. MSU has consistently demonstrated a willingness to position itself as a national and regional hub for applied, professional education. By hosting this programme at its Harare campus, MSU is creating an accessible, credible and globally connected learning environment for sport administrators from Zimbabwe and the region. This is a powerful statement of academic confidence and national service.
“To FIFA and CIES, we express our sincere gratitude. Your decision to extend this programme to Zimbabwe is a vote of confidence in our institutions and our people. It signals belief in our capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute meaningfully to the global sports ecosystem.
“We do not take that trust lightly. ZIFA is committed to upholding the standards, values and expectations that accompany the FIFA CIES brand.
“This programme is not designed only for football, even though football remains its heartbeat. It is deliberately multi-sport in outlook and relevance. Administrators from athletics, rugby, cricket, netball, basketball and other codes will find in this programme a common language of governance, leadership and professionalism. In that sense, today marks an important moment not just for football, but for Zimbabwean sport as a whole,’’ added Magwizi.
Magwizi also saluted Government’s support for the landmark ZIFA initiative. “I therefore wish to sincerely thank the Government of Zimbabwe for its unwavering support. Our President’s passion for the growth and development of sport in this nation is evident not only in policy but also in practical partnership.
“We also acknowledge the Sports and Recreation Commission for its continued guidance, encouragement and alignment with national development objectives. When government, federations and academic institutions move in the same direction, sport becomes a powerful tool for national progress.
“ZIFA’s expectation is clear. We want graduates of this programme who raise standards, who insist on transparency, who respect governance, who manage resources prudently and who understand that sport carries social, economic and ethical weight. If we get that right, results on the field will follow, but more importantly, trust will return to our institutions,’’ Magwizi said. Monnier Vincent from the FIFA CIES International Centre for Sports Studies underscored the importance of having this programme for the country.
“The objectives of this programme are more modest, yet essential. It is to help students to better understand the environment in which they live,” said Vincent.
“It is to help students to better understand the environment in which sports organisations operate. This will allow students to make more informed decisions, which is already a huge advantage.
“This is a powerful statement of academic confidence and national service.”
Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive officer Marlene Gadzirai hailed the move, saying sports management in this country will never be the same again.
“This programme embraces inclusivity by opening doors for diverse participants across federations and communities,” said Gadzirai.
“It pursues excellence by delivering a curriculum that meets international standards, and it demonstrates innovation by adapting local business practices to our local context.
“It embodies teamwork through collaboration between MSU, ZIFA, FIFA, CIES and the wider sporting family, and it ensures sustainability by inventing a human capital that will serve sports for generations.” MSU’s programme director for CIES, Thomas Marambanyika, who is also a ZIFA executive committee member, ex-pressed excitement over the development and ensured that his institution will deliver quality.
