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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) has blasted the beleagued Zifa, describing the association as an institution that has collapsed. SRC director general Charles Nhemachena yesterday had no kind words for the ever-blundering football association following its decision to postpone its annual general meeting which will now be held in June.
As reported by Chronicle Sport on Tuesday, Zifa sent a circular to its councillors saying the postponement had been caused by financial constraints currently obtaining as well as pressing national team commitments.
The SRC boss scoffed at Zifa’s reasons for deferring the AGM saying they should have let members foot their own bills for the meeting.
What further annoyed the SRC is that moving the AGM to a later date is unconstitutional.
“Failing to have an AGM isn’t in conformity with the principles of corporate governance and it’s a serious indictment on those steering the ship. Doing so all but confirms the collapse of an organisation. We can’t continue to proceed in this manner,” Nhemachena said.
Zifa has been dodging calls for an AGM amid reports that members of the executive committee were aware that the councillors have been pushing for their expulsion.
Tempers have been boiling among Zifa councillors, irked by Zimbabwe’s ban from the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers emanating from coach José Claudinei Georgini — popularly known as Valinhos’ — debt.
Initially the debt owed to the Brazilian coach stood at $67,000, but ballooned to $81,000 due to legal costs.
Nhemachena also took a swipe at Zifa councillors who were doing nothing to raise their concerns about the manner in which the institution is being run.
“Violation of the constitution isn’t condoned at all. The problem with people in sport, especially in football, is that those (Zifa councillors) entrusted to run it don’t raise anomalies and just read issues in the papers and let them go. That’s why we can’t move as a football nation because we’ve passive people in leadership positions.”
Nhemachena said there is a need to engage the football association with a view to emphasise on corporate governance adherence.
He noted that Zifa’s behaviour is likely to alienate potential sponsors who cannot pour their funds into an institution without audited accounts.
Zifa is in dire need of financial backup to ensure that they send the men’s Under-23 and senior national women’s teams for Olympic Games qualifiers.
The Young Warriors will represent the country at the Cosafa tournament which will run from May 17-30 in South Africa while the Warriors will participate in the 2017 Afcon qualifiers.
The SRC said it would intervene to save the country from further embarrassment.
“At the end of the day it’s the country which stands to suffer. The SRC will intervene and investigate problems bedevilling the beleaguered association. The challenge stalking the progress inquiry which was going to be an intervention and give us a long term perspective to deal with Zifa issues is lack of resources to move around,” said Nhemachena.
“We’ve to guard against unproductive practices and I’m certain that once the Ministry gives us the nod we shall come up with lasting solutions”.
Online Reporter