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Langton Nyakwenda, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ONE of the longest serving members of the ZIFA Congress, Derick Matapure, has expressed a lot of faith in the football association’s new leadership.
The ZIFA Mashonaland West chairman is confident more funding will flow into the ZIFA programmes following the election of Nqobile Magwizi as the new president.
Magwizi is a renowned entrepreneur and business leader with a strong network in the corporate world.
He played a key role when Premier Soccer League giants Dynamos and Highlanders clinched a multi-million-dollar deal with Sakunda Holdings in 2021.
Matapure believes Magwizi could transform ZIFA into an enviable association.
“As the chairman of ZIFA Mashonaland West province I know Magwizi as a board member for Banket United and he has been a lot of assistance to football.
“Magwizi has a history in facilitating sponsorship deals for some big teams in the country, so we are very positive that his coming in will bring a positive change,” said Matapure.
The Mashonaland West chairman is one of the elders in the ZIFA Congress having been involved in the elections of several boards.
He is sure the newly elected executive committee has the right mixture of experience and expertise.
The new ZIFA executive committee comprises successful business people and academics.
Businessman Brighton “Panjap” Ushendibaba, actuarial scientist Tafadzwa Benza, Dutch Academy director Kudzai Kadzombe and Harare City official Alice Zeure are now part of the board.
The executive committee also includes outgoing Eastern Region chairman, Davison Muchena, and renowned fundi Thomas Marambanyika, who until his election last Saturday, was the Central Region’s vice-chairman.
Former Premier Soccer League chief executive officer, Kennedy Ndebele and ex-Herentals Queens player Loveness Mukura will be Magwizi’s deputies.
“Magwizi has a great team that he will work with,” Matapure said.
“Being someone with a lot of connections, and from what he told us during his campaigns, he is someone who can unlock value for our football.
“I am sure he will also bring in even foreign investment into Zimbabwean football.
“The composition of the board is also giving us hope. It is quite balanced.
“You have the young minds in there, energetic people also in there as well as businessmen.
“I am sure they will be able to support Magwizi,” added Matapure.
Councillors have already been called on to give Magwizi and his executive a chance to turn around a ZIFA that is coming from nearly two years of a FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee whose primary focus was to institute the association’s reforms.
Online Reporter