daniel chigunwe
Zimpapers Sports Hub
BERNARD Gwarada feels key stakeholder engagement can help in the smooth running of ZIFA.
The seasoned football administrator is back in the running for a ZIFA executive member post in the January 25 elections having been reinstated after being initially erroneously excluded from the list.
He is looking to win one of the available six spots on the board from an expansive list of 39 hopefuls.
The former Douglas Warriors co-owner is now playing catch-up in terms of his campaign after his name was retained to the ballot only last week.
Despite the setback Gwarada is still confident he will nail his place in the new ZIFA executive due to his vast experience and knowledge of the game.
He believes ZIFA should, as a matter of priority, make sure that they partner fans, the media and Government for them to function efficiently.
“Let me first thank the ZIFA NC led by Lincoln Mutasa for reinstating me on the ballot. I have read through all the manifestos of the six presidential candidates and they clearly show how they want to communicate their mission and vision.
“However I notice that the issue of stakeholders is not explicitly outlined. Therefore, when I am voted into office, I make sure that my views are incorporated into the presidents’ vision.
“The three key stakeholders I expect to be incorporated and given prominence are the supporters, media and the Government,” said Gwarada.
“Football leadership does not operate in a vacuum and therefore for it to prosper it must take into account the complexity of the environment including attaching appropriate weight to public opinion.
“In the football value chain, supporters play a very important role in the sense that they are also a source for alternative view points which an astute leadership should consider before arriving at crucial decision that affect the association.
“This is because within the supporter’s ranks there is abundant football knowledge, talent, intellectual capacity which can only be entirely ignored at the possible expense of the ZIFA.
“There is an interdependence between media and sport, in particular football. Media has helped to expose good and bad things happening at ZIFA.
“Effective communication with the media is critical for ZIFA to be able to carry out its mission and promote continued public support.”
He said there is no association that can operate effectively without Government support and having the latter as a partner makes life easy for the mother body.
Online Reporter