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Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE is no substitute for experience, after all.
That seemed to be the rallying call among the country’s 10 provinces as they all reposed their confidence in Tendayi Tagara’s capacity to steer the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) ship for another term.
The veteran administrator was unanimously retained when provincial nominations closed late on Friday ahead of the October 26 NAAZ Congress.
Zimpapers Sports Hub established yesterday that at the end of the nomination process, presided over by an electoral committee, the 10 provinces all gave their thumbs up to Tagara’s candidature.
Tagara, a member of World Athletics’ Development Commission, will have to wait until October 26 before he knows the identity of his first vice president.
This is because there will be a contest pitting the trio of Njere Shumba, Walter Zimusi and veteran Enias Nhoro. There were no such qualms for the post of second vice president, with Sipathisiwe Machaya being overwhelmingly voted for from across the country.
Similarly, treasurer Enoch Ngwenya was the lone candidate at the end of the provincial nominations.
Secretary-general Cynthia Phiri will have to shake off challenges from Precious Tarakino, William Chuma and Russell Chimhare on Saturday.
But for Tagara, his re-election appears a testament to his administrative pedigree that has also seen the former national coach being appointed the head of technical administration of athletes at the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Youth games to be held in Namibia next year.
With NAAZ, who successfully amended their constitution and registered it with the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) on November 30, 2022, making huge strides to improve their operations, the provincial boards appear to have been convinced to go for continuity.
NAAZ have been one of the shining examples from among the national sporting associations that are registered with the SRC.
The provincial boards spoke with one voice yesterday ahead of their annual indaba, where they will now complete the rest of the executive committee. NAAZ have made their presence felt in the country’s sporting ecosystem, in which they have been a regular contributor of podium athletes in Team Zimbabwe contingents at any level, whether African Games, Region 5 Youth Games or other regional and continental competitions.
Two of their athletes, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, hogged the limelight with some commendable performances at the Olympic Games in Paris, France, recently.
Crucially for NAAZ is that they are on the right side of the SRC’s compliance ruler.
Although there is no doubt of some grey areas which NAAZ would need to polish to satisfy a, SRC that has been eager to see all associations attain some degree of perfection, the athletics body have so far passed the test and have been rated compliant.
“The compliance of National Sporting Associations (NSA) is important as it gives basis for the SRC to activate its oversight role in terms of the NSA operations, with particulate reference to administrative and financial aspects,’’ the SRC director-general, Eltah Nengomasha, said.
“While the SRC does not interfere with any NSA’s operations, it has oversight in the sense that it monitors and tracks performance-related aspects through compliance.
“National Sporting Associations are required to be complaint from an administrative and financial perspective. Administrative includes submission of budgets and calendar of events, this allows the SRC to activate strategies in support of NSA initiatives and activities.
“Financial returns include the submission of audited financial statements and this allows the SRC to assess to what extent an NSA is utilising available resources in a transparent and accountable manner, more so if the resources are being used as intended.
“When an NSA is complaint, it means it has satisfactorily achieved the above, which is not an easy feat.”
Nengomasha cited Zimbabwe Cricket and NAAZ among a sizeable number of associations that are performing well.
“It is, therefore, commendable that NAAZ and ZC have continued to be on the SRC compliant radar and these administrative advantages reflect even in the performance of the two sport codes,” she said.
“There is a positive correlation between a compliant NSA and its performance. This trend has been noted for the greater component of the compliant NSAs, while the opposite has proven true.”
She encouraged leaders of national sporting associations to ensure their organisations are in good standing with the SRC.
“Being compliant allows an NSA to access funding support. SRC cannot extend financial support to an NSA which cannot account to its stakeholders how the funds are being administered
“Compliance with SRC gives the market confidence that their investment will be handled in a transparent and accountable manner,’’ added Nengomasha.
Online Reporter