adminRobson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
ZIFA board member Nigel Munyati has thrown his name into the hat to challenge for the association’s presidency saying the outgoing leadership was a gigantic failure that let down both the game and a nation that is madly in love with its football.
The Aces Youth Soccer Academy founder/director, who was part of the outgoing Zifa board, said while individuals on the board might have excelled, the board lacked leadership and will be remembered as a failed project.
Munyati, who was in charge of marketing, revealed that his board somehow refused to sign a deal with Germany sportswear firm, Puma, which had the Fifa support, even though it could have earned the Association about US$500 000 a year.
He claimed that money was being used to buy patronage of some people in the game but said he was confident that his vision will win him votes because people wanted four years of success and that needed visionary leadership.
“The outgoing Zifa Board has been a failure. While in our individual capacities we may have performed to differing levels of effectiveness, the net result is that we have failed the nation and our beautiful game. The main reason for this failure has been poor leadership,” Munyati says in his election manifesto.
“Our Board failed to focus on instituting a strategic approach to managing the glaring needs and requisite and key success factors such as cleansing the Association’s image, financial rescue and prudent financial management, professionalisation of the Secretariat, implementation of a Junior Football Development programme, and securing a technical partnership for the national team kit and equipment.
“Instead we wasted precious time on pursuing issues of peripheral importance, such as cleansing the Secretariat of the old staff, and suspending Board Members considered disruptive to some individuals’ private agendas.
“Our Board was fraught with cancer characterised by indecisiveness, acrimonious infighting, and blindness, which cost the association dearly.”
Munyati says he could have made a bigger difference, if he was empowered with the executive authority that comes with being the Zifa president, in the past four years and he is asking the football family to give him that chance.
“Some of the values I will institute include — Strategic Thinking and Action, Decisiveness, Consistency, Honesty, and Fairness,” Munyati, who has played and administered the game, said.
“I am a full-time football administrator with a lifetime of passionate experience and expertise. I am running for the post of Zifa President and promise to bring Zimbabwe Football a passionate combination of skill, experience, dedication, and professionalism.
“Sport is a fundamental ingredient to a nation’s health, as it can help instil a sense of national pride and galvanise it in times of difficulty. Zimbabwe needs football. Our nation has endured a very challenging decade-and-a-half of political discord and economic strife that have left us with a low sense of personal and national esteem. I promise to play my part in redeeming the national soul through football.”
Other areas that Munyati wants to address, if elected into office, include:
Professionalisation of the Association
The Secretariat has perennially underperformed and this has severely compromised the Association’s ability to deliver on its mandate. Creating an effective organisational structure and employing a team of competent staff supported by a firm but fair implementation of effective policies and procedures will be a top priority.
Professionalisation will also include:
(i) Staff Contracts — All Zifa employees will be placed on annual contracts to ensure that numbers are commensurate with Association funding and that retention is based on performance.
(ii) Decentralisation — To ensure that administrative support is more effective, I will encourage the Board/Council to introduce a structure that has two conferences; the Northern (Harare-based) and Southern (Byo-based) Conferences, each with a General Manager.
(iii) Engagement of Technical Partner/Kit Supplier — Despite the Puma deal receiving Fifa support, the last Board refused to sign the contract, denying the Association an opportunity to earn a minimum of US$500 000/year in replica sales. I will make the engagement of a Technical Partner/Kit Supplier to dress and equip all national teams one of the first actions of the new Board.
(iv) Elimination of the Culture of Patronage — Paid patronage is a cancer that is killing our beautiful game. This disease has, undoubtedly, compromised corporate governance, and caused football administrators around the country to lose sight of their obligations to developing Zimbabwe football, and tarnished the Association’s image. In my conversations with government officials, corporate leaders, or ordinary football enthusiasts around the country, the one comment they all make is “how will you compete against all the money that some candidates have splashed around the country?” My answer to them is: “I am confident that those who are visionary and truly love Zimbabwe football will choose ethics over money”. For how can you prosecute an 18-year-old young man for accepting US$500 to influence the outcome of a match when you are receiving money to influence the outcome of an election? If we cannot see that the two are one-and-the same, then our football is doomed.
The PSL: Supportive Engagement
All over the world, the core of Association football is the league (EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, etc.). A strong League creates and will generate meaningful employment and income for thousands of Zimbabweans. So the Association must support the golden goose much more than it has done in the past. My Executive will do the following to support the PSL:
League Sponsorship — Together with the PSL Chairman I will lobby for wider and increased sponsorship of the League and competitions, including the FA Cup.
Reduction/Removal of Levies —Many clubs are facing severe financial constraints and need to hold on to every cent they generate. I will motivate the Board to eliminate the 6 percent levy on gate-takings, and convince the SRC and government to reduce their levies.
Eliminate International Transfer Levy — According to Fifa Player Transfer Regulations Article 9.1: ‘Players registered at one association may only be registered at a new association once the latter has received an International Transfer Certificate from the former association. The ITC shall be issued free of charge without any conditions or time limit. Any provisions to the contrary shall be null and void.’ Whereas the Nyatanga-led Executive instituted a US$1 000 administration fee, which would be fair, the 15 percent fee levied by the current Board is unrealistically excessive.
Zifa Participation in Broadcast Rights — In doing the above, Zifa will be giving up sources of income, a situation that would be detrimental to an already financially distraught organisation. So Zifa will participate in the SuperSport PSL broadcast rights and earn a set percentage.
Terrestrial Broadcast of PSL matches — The SuperSport Broadcast in 2013 was an excellent boost for the League. However, it will enjoy greater success if the partnership is extended to ZBC. Parties will also benefit from advertising revenue generated.
Health/Life Insurance Schemes — Many illustrious players have died paupers, a sad situation that testifies to the Zimbabwe football’s failure.
Advertising — Touchline Advertising.
Mandatory Curtain Raiser Matches for Juniors
Facilities Upgrade — Deal with Local Government for Naming Rights
FA Cup
REGIONAL FOOTBALL:
Sustainable Quality
(a) North/South Conference Leagues
(b) Sponsorship
(c) Facilities Upgrade
JUNIOR FOOTBALL: A Meaningful Re-Start
(a) Introduce Department at Secretariat with a Manager and Regional/Provincial Coordinators
(b) Reinforce the Area Zones to set up Suburban Leagues in partnership with Local Government
(c) Make effective use of the Fifa Financial Assistance Programme (FAP). Fifa on FAP — ‘The Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) is designed to motivate and empower the associations and confederations to organise development programmes that meet their needs and strengthen football and its administration in the long term.’
(d) 10 Provincial Junior Football Leagues
(e) League Winners Progression to Regional/National Championships (National Team Selections from All Area/Province/Regional Teams)
(f) National Junior Development Manual
(g) Accreditation of Junior Development Coaches
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Back to Basics
(a) A Sustainable League
(b) Focus on Junior Development
THE FOOTBALL SUPPORTER:
Reaching Out
“For some time now, the Zimbabwean soccer supporter has been shortchanged by poor administration at both the league and national team levels. I promise to turn this around by (i) Improving the Match Day Experience; (ii) Rivalry Management”.
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