Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi says he is happy with the positive reception his new executive committee is receiving from football stakeholders across the country.
The Zifa leadership is presently engaged in a nationwide tour to connect with key stakeholders, marking the beginning of a four-year mandate aimed at restoring Zimbabwean football after years of disintegration.
Yesterday, the Zifa executive committee met key stakeholders in Bulawayo where Magwizi said his executive committee is open to good ideas.
The country’s new football boss believes in open, honest communication.
The nationwide stakeholder engagement kicked off last Friday in Harare (Northern Region) and continued with visits to Gweru (Central Region), Bulawayo (Southern Region) and Masvingo (Eastern Region) at the weekend.
Throughout these engagements, Magwizi has been presenting a strategic framework designed to guide all football stakeholders in shaping a clear and progressive path for Zimbabwean football in the short and medium term.
Magwizi expressed his appreciation for the positive contributions made during these engagements.
“The engagements have been amazing. Stakeholders had good contributions. People know what is wrong and what is right for our football. There seems to be a clear direction in terms of what path our football should take.
“Now we just have to agree on what tactics we should deploy to ensure our football takes the direction that will enable us to achieve the shared vision we have. I am happy with the engagements we have had. I am humbled by the commitment and support we have got from stakeholders. Communication is going to be continuous between us and the stakeholders,” said Magwizi
These engagements are part of an effort to align the new leadership with football affiliates as they begin the challenging task of restoring the national game.
The Zifa board, under Magwizi’s leadership, has also been encouraged by its productive interactions with Fifa.
Fifa dispatched David Fani, the head of their Southern Africa office and former president of the Botswana Football Association, to engage with the team. He was accompanied by Fifa consultant Stewart Regan, a former chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, along with other key Fifa officials who joined the workshop virtually from Switzerland.
The new Zifa board comprises of Magwizi, vice-presidents Kennedy Ndebele and Loveness Mukura, and board members Kudzai Kadzombe, Alice Zeure, Tafadzwa Benza, Thomas Marambanyika, Brighton Ushendibaba and Davison Muchena. Two more members will be appointed from the Premier Soccer League and the Zimbabwe Women’s Football League. The two affiliates are yet to conduct elections to select their substantive chairpersons.
Zifa’s new leadership faces considerable challenges as they work to move past a tumultuous history characterised by boardroom infighting, corruption and abuse of office allegations.–@innocentskizoe
