admin
Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
THE build-up to the upcoming ZIFA elections continued to gather momentum with yet another former Zimbabwe international Edzai Kasinauyo, throwing his name into the race to become one of the association’s board members.
In the week that his former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari confirmed that he would be vying for the vice-presidency of ZIFA, Kasinauyo yesterday joined the fray with the ex-Moroka Swallows and Ajax Cape Town midfielder revealing that he has set his sights on becoming the association’s board member development.
Another former Warriors international, John Phiri, was the board member development in the last board led by Cuthbert Dube whose mandate was revoked by the ZIFA assembly at an extraordinary general meeting at Prince Edward School on October 3.
But Kasinauyo, who has ventured into business ever since he called time on his playing career, revealed yesterday that he had decided to play a more influential role in the development of the game and believes being a ZIFA board member will help him serve the game on a national scale.
The 40-year-old former Blackpool and Arcadia United midfielder welcomed the emergence of more former players in the ZIFA election race and reckoned that the time was ripe for the ex-footballers to play a bigger role in the administrative corridors of the country’s biggest sport.
With Philip Chiyangwa appearing certain to become the next ZIFA president amid indications of strong support from the councillors, there have also been calls for the assembly members to select a formidable team for the board that could drive the beleaguered association from the quagmire.
After making all the early running in the presidential race, Chiyangwa seems to have struck a crucial blow to his prospective opponents following the endorsement he received from the four regional chairmen — Mussa Mundaza (Southern), Felton Kamambo (Central) Willard Manyengavana (Northern) and Eastern Region’s Piraishe Mabhena.
A confident Kasinauyo also felt that a blend of former footballers and those coming from a business background could just be the tonic that ZIFA need against a background of a severely battered image and a crippling debt that has been pegged at around $6 million.
But after opting to become a players’ manager while running sports marketing and sports retail ventures what drove him to take aim at the ZIFA board?
“It is the love and passion I have for the game which has given me everything and the best I can do to give back to football is by actually taking part in events that serve the country.
“For the past years I have served football but I feel we need to help at national level. There are a lot of things which I have learnt throughout my football career and I think it is the time to be involved and impart my knowledge to the rest of the country,’’ Kasinauyo said.
Kasinauyo said he had no qualms about relinquishing the role of player manager as that was a duty he performed on behalf of a sports management company Tamba Sport International.
“It is not an individual thing and if it means I need to leave that to someone else and concentrate on the bigger role, I will do so. I think the bigger picture is to make sure that our football is taken to a higher level and be competitive and the best way to do is to have a strong ZIFA board that balances the business aspect and the football side and I feel we need to be able to have the right mix.’’
Kasinauyo also revealed his excitement at having former footballers now taking a keen interest in assuming administrative positions as the majority had always opted to venture into coaching at the end of their playing careers.
“There has always been a cry why former players are not being involved but we have been learning and I think now is the time to come through.
“We also need those who have not played football so that we get a good mix that will see us having stronger grassroots and having the right people in place.’’
Kasinauyo said although much attention had been made on ZIFA’s debt clearing strategies, he was of the view that there was need for the association to also have systematic development programmes.
“Development is the heart and soul of football growth and it’s about time that we try to qualify for the tournaments that matter most from the age group teams right through to the senior teams.’’
It is Kasinuayo’s conviction that Zimbabwe could become a regular feature at the African Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 championships if proper structures that include active participation by the provinces, schools and clubs are out into place.
Having played his professional career in South Africa before engaging in player management in which he has been involved in placement of a host of players to several clubs such as Kaizer Chiefs, Ajax Cape Town, SuperSport United, Bidvest Wits and Maritzburg United, Kasinauyo is also hoping to use South African and European contacts to drive the game’s development initiatives during the next board’s tenure.
Nominations for the ZIFA elections are expected to close today but the association’s communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said they would only release the full list of those who would have entered the elections race on Saturday.
“Prospective candidates have been allowed to submit their forms at the ZIFA provincial and regional offices around the country and we will then consolidate the lists on Friday and release the names on Saturday,’’ Gwesela said.
Online Reporter