Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PASSION alone is no longer sufficient in sports administration because the game has evolved over the years and is now anchored on professional competence and accountability, ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi has said.
It is against this background that ZIFA in partnership with the Midlands State University, FIFA and the International Centre for Sports Studies, have launched an international sports management programme.
In a landmark development for the management of football in the country, the programme will be staged at MSU’s Harare campus with the first batch of students set to undergo studies between April and December this year.
Unlike on previous occasions when CIES have only gone into bed with selected universities in the countries they operate in, this is the first time that the Swiss-based institution are partnering with a football association in Africa.
Magwizi, naturally excited about the development, challenged administrators to match passion with professionalism, which the sporting ecosystem, now increasingly demands.
“Around the world, sport has changed and you will agree with me.
“Sport is no longer the same as it used to be in the 1970s or in the ’80s or in the ’90s.
“It is no longer sustained by passion. Passion is something that is enormous in sport, but sport is no longer sustained only by passion,” Magwizi said.
“That passion must be met by knowledge, systems, ethics, accountability, and professional competence.
“Modern sport operates in complex environments. My vice-presidents will tell you that modern sport is complex,” added Magwizi.
Magwizi and his executive committee have now clocked a year in office, and one of their key targets has been to improve ZIFA’s reputation by introducing professionalism and accountability at the domestic football mother-body.
Resultantly, ZIFA are luring the corporate world back to football sponsorship, with firms like Ecobank and Better brands now key partners of the association.
“Modern sport operates in a very, very complex environment, shaped by commercial pressures, legal frameworks, governance expectations, technology, as well as public scrutiny.
“Those who lead sports today must therefore be equipped to navigate that complex environment with confidence and integrity.
“The FIFA CIES International Programme in Sports Management is globally recognised as one of the most respected pathways for developing capable, ethical and forward-thinking sports administrators.
“Since its inception, it has been established across multiple continents through a select international university network, producing thousands of products who occupy leadership roles in football and sports worldwide.
“So, by bringing this programme to Zimbabwe, we are connecting our administrators, our institutions, and our missions to truly global standards of excellence,” said Magwizi.
He added: “For Zimbabwe, this programme speaks directly to our strategic direction.
“Over the past period, we have been clear that the future of football in Zimbabwe depends not only on talent on the pitch, but on competence off it.
“Strong clubs, sustainable leagues, credible competitions, and trusted institutions are built by people who understand governance, finance, marketing, communication, law, and even event management in equal measure.
“This programme addresses all those pillars in a structured and rigorous manner.”
The launch was graced by the Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Emily Jesaya, David Fani, Regional Lead Development Officer for FIFA, representatives from MSU, the Sports and Recreation Commission, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, ZIFA regional bodies the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe, among a host of institutions.
Magwizi also commended MSU with whom ZIFA had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance football development.
“I want to commend Midlands State University for its leadership and vision.
“MSU has consistently demonstrated a willingness to position itself as an international and regional hub for applying professional education.
“By hosting this programme at its Harare campus, MSU is creating an accessible, credible and globally connected learning environment for sports administrators from Zimbabwe and the region,” Magwizi said.
