Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
INTEGRITY, accountability and transparency are the core values that Twine Phiri, a contender for the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) presidency, has pledged to uphold as he unveiled his campaign manifesto in Bulawayo yesterday.
Phiri, a former Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman, expressed confidence in his ability to lead the association, citing his experience in leading Caps United and the PSL.
Phiri’s manifesto which he launched in the presence of the media and Zifa councillors is built around restoring integrity, accountability and transparency in local football.
He promised to revamp the Zifa Village and upgrade existing facilities, as well as collaborate with educational institutions to promote football development.
Phiri said Fifa funding will be well channelled to drive development projects and programmes such as the Zifa Village which he said would be raised to three-star hotel standards and 53 Livingstone Avenue, the traditional home of football turned into offices for women’s soccer.
He says times of Zifa renting offices would be buried with some of the Fifa funding to address that.
Women’s football, grassroots development, and international partnerships are also key areas of focus for Phiri.
During his tenure as PSL chairperson, Phiri successfully attracted sponsors to the league, and he believes he can replicate this success as Zifa president.
“I will be your slave,” Phiri told councillors.
“My main goal is restoring integrity and accountability in the game. I have unfinished business with Zimbabwe football, which, if unlocked, will see us becoming a powerhouse,” said Phiri.
“We need to take beach football and futsal football seriously. Fifa gives money for these codes therefore they should be prioritised,” said Phiri.
On his plans for ensuring transparency in the game of football Phiri said: “I’m going to work with committees which will have highly ethical individuals. In our setup, we will have an investigation team to deal with favouritism and any other side things in terms of national team selection and activity.”
Phiri is one of the six candidates who passed the eligibility test to contest for the position of the Zifa president, alongside Nqobile Magwizi, Makwinji Soma Phiri, Philemon Machana and Marshall Gore.
Phiri also promised to establish Centres of Excellence, a School of Excellence, and a Councillors Advisory Council to provide guidance and support.
Aspiring board members Cris Mtungwazi, Morgen Dube, Tizirayi Luphahla, Tawengwa Hara and Sibekiwe Ndlovu were in attendance and Phiri encouraged them to share their vision for Zimbabwean football.
Bongani Ndlovu