Let us not squander the moment

ALL things being equal, the frenzied dash for the most coveted post in ZIFA — the presidency — enters the home stretch this week, with elections scheduled for Saturday.

But not so fast.

While the ZIFA Electoral Committee (read the Normalisation Committee in different robes) insist the elections will go ahead as planned, the outcome of cases lodged by Walter Magaya and Temba Mliswa before the High Court might materially change the complexion of the race and possibly its outcome.

While four candidates — Farai Jere, Benjani Mwaruwari, Walter Magaya and Themba Mliswa — are reported to have failed to pass the vetting to contest, Bra Shakes was not quite shocked by the exclusion of the prophet.

Since his case is sub judice, Bra Shakes will tread and choose his words carefully.

Well, there was already talk way before ZIFA came up with that curious constitution requiring candidates wishing to lead the association to possess at least 5 O-Level passes that Magaya was unlikely to make the cut.

Among the many cases that were cited as potential major impediments to his candidature was the US$82 000 fine that was slapped on his club, Yadah, by FIFA for breaching the contracts of three expatriate players — the Brazilian trio of Joao Pedro Marques Barcellos, Juan Luciano Faria and Deivid Pereira de Brito — that were recruited in 2023.

Such a transgression, it was said, was likely to undermine his integrity in the eyes of both CAF and FIFA.

So, right from the beginning, the odds were always staked against him.

Like him or hate him, Magaya is a street-smart influential figure, who had reportedly managed to make some inroads in canvassing support from many of the ZIFA councillors.

However, if he gets a favourable ruling at the High Court and the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, this will likely change the dynamics of the race.

With all due respect to Makwinji Soma Phiri, Marshall Gore, Twine Phiri and Martin Kweza, it might seem we have a two-horse race between Nqobile Magwizi and Philemon Machana, especially without the disqualified candidates.

Kweza is considered a dark horse.

While the campaigns for the ZIFA presidency in particular might seem peaceful and orderly, there are some issues.

Let us not kid ourselves: Anything that involves voting is naturally political, and one has to look beneath the surface to understand the dynamics.

The insidious dirty campaigns and shenanigans around this campaign become clearer when one looks hard enough, from the “responsible citizens” who came forward to lodge objections against some candidates to the use of influential social media accounts to both decampaign some contestants and extol others.

But this is the nature of politics, where the fittest survives.

All this drama, however, should not distract from the fact that Saturday — if the elections go ahead as planned — presents local football with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reinvent itself.

Football is now a multi-billion-dollar business, and we need to treat it as such.

It begins by getting the basics right, which is having the right individual helming ZIFA.

So, it boils down to the ZIFA councillors, who will have the onus and burden to do the right thing.

They must vote with their conscience, not with their pockets.

The future of local football lies in their vote.

They must not fail us.

Until next time.

Peace!

Yours Sincerely,

Bra Shakes.