Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE is a new Sherif at the ZIFA secretariat, albeit in an acting capacity but he has vowed to undertake constructive engagement with all football stakeholders to expedite the growth of the game in 2026 and beyond.
Norman Gwangwadza, who until Yvonne Manwa’s departure on December 31 last year, was the finance director, has been appointed the acting ZIFA chief executive.
For the next three months, Gwangwadza, will hold forte in the key post that is popularly referred to as General Secretary at international football federations such as FIFA, CAF and COSAFA.
Gwangwadza, a chartered accountant by profession plunges into the trenches in what promises to be a busy calendar year for ZIFA if the programmes and plans that have been laid down for the country’s flagship sport, are anything to go by.
Nqobile Magwzizi’s executive committee, who clock their first year in office on Sunday, following their watershed January 25, 2025 election, have their sights fixed on reviving women’s and junior football, building administrative and coaching capacities, bringing back the premier knock-out tournament — the ZIFA Cup — and wanting the Warriors to secure qualification for the 2027 AFCON among a long list of their “things to do in 2026.”
And Gwangwadza, whose corporate experience spans several companies in the health, construction, insurance and finance sectors, which include Turnall Holdings, MedSure Health Care and KPMG Chartered Accountants, seems determined to have his mark and make a positive contribution to the growth of Zimbabwe’s football.
He told Zimpapers Sports Hub of the honour he felt when Magwizi’s leadership tasked him with carrying on the baton from Manwa and steering the ship.
“My appointment as Acting General Secretary of ZIFA is both a great honour and a profound responsibility,’’ Gwangwadza said.
“Football in Zimbabwe is more than a sport, it is a national asset that carries the hopes, pride and identity of our people.
“I approach this role with humility, discipline and a clear understanding that the task ahead is to help restore trust, strengthen systems, and build an association that is professional, transparent and financially sound.”
The rocky terrain that normally characterises the national game is not lost on Gwangwadza, who said he had been closely following events in football for years.
He, however, believes that with a professional and open engagement with the game’s key stakeholders, the objective of the ZIFA leadership, to transform Zimbabwean football could be achieved.
Gwangwadza also urged for co-operation from ZIFA members, players and coaches as he navigates his way into the key post in which he will literally be the association’s point man.
“To the entire football family — players, coaches, referees, administrators, clubs, fans, sponsors and partners — you will be seeing and engaging with me more regularly as the point person in the day-to-day administration of the game.
“My door will be open, my communication will be clear, and my focus will be on service delivery.
“We must move forward together, guided by integrity, accountability and a shared commitment to grow the game at every level.
“This is a collective journey, and I look forward to collaborating closely with all stakeholders to ensure Zimbabwean football is stable, credible and competitive, both on and off the field.”
Although he has already hit the ground running and is helping, among other issues, to prepare for the implementation and adherence to Club Licensing tenets, Gwangwadza also noted that administering the national game is not a walk in the park.
“Coming into the role, the early days have been intense but very instructive. Having spent over 20 years in the corporate environment, including listed companies, I am naturally accustomed to structured systems, clear controls, defined accountability and disciplined financial management.
“One of the immediate challenges has been aligning those corporate governance standards with a football ecosystem that has historically operated under pressure, limited resources and high public scrutiny.
“There are legacy issues to confront — around processes, documentation, cash-flow management and expectations — but none of these are insurmountable.
“From my perspective, the priority is to stabilise the administrative and financial backbone of the association so that football decisions are supported by sound systems rather than fire-fighting,’’ added Gwangwadza.
He has been encouraged by the renewed vigour across the national game’s structures to turnaround ZIFA.
“What has been encouraging is the willingness across the secretariat and stakeholders to embrace change.
“Football has its own dynamics and emotions, but good governance is universal. My role is to apply that discipline, while remaining sensitive to the realities of the game and to ensure that ZIFA is run with the professionalism expected of a national institution,” Gwangwadza said.
Gwangwadza’s experience and commitment to transparency and accountability are seen as key assets in driving the sport forward, especially against ZIFA’s chequered history.
