mbulelo smpofu
Curtworth Masango
BUSINESSMAN Nqobile Magwizi has been elected as the new president of Zifa, marking a significant turning point for Zimbabwean football.
Magwizi secured a decisive 80 percent landslide victory, winning 61 out of 76 votes cast by the Zifa Assembly at a Harare hotel on Saturday.
The new Zifa board, comprising Magwizi, vice-presidents Kenny Ndebele and Loveness Mukura, and six ordinary members, is expected to work towards rebuilding the sport and restoring its reputation.
With Magwizi at the helm, Zimbabwean football is poised for a new dawn of growth, development and success.
In his acceptance speech, Magwizi stressed the importance of partnerships in growing football in Zimbabwe.
“We need to rebuild trust and partners. Partners are very critical in the growth of football in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Magwizi also underlined his commitment to collaboration and development, citing Ecobank’s promise to work with Zifa and provide an office space while renovations are underway.
Magwizi’s vision for Zimbabwean football includes commercialisation, success in the Afcon tournament, and transparency.
“We have to make sure that we commercialise. We have Afcon coming up which becomes our primary purpose. If we don’t do well there, it means we are failing and it’s our commitment to do well . . . If we don’t do well there, it means we are failing,” he said.
“So we are very committed to hitting the ground running and we need to have the next matches played here. It’s embarrassing to play outside the country.
“This is a national project that needs all of us, where we err you should be able to tell us. You have the right to have a say in this administration.
“If we are to be successful as a nation, transparency is important, so it’s about us working together not as individuals,” said Magwizi.
One of his vice-presidents, Ndebele, concurred, calling for unity among stakeholders to support the president’s vision.
“It’s a new paradigm and we need to chart the way forward. We need to support the president and the executive and all the committees as we engage all our key stakeholders from the presidium, ministry, and SRC, to make sure that we develop the game and ensure we compete and win trophies at the highest stage,” he said.
The election marks a significant milestone for Zimbabwean football, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including a two-year Fifa ban and the effects of Covid-19.
The new Zifa board is expected to focus on rebuilding and restoring the sport’s reputation.
The other six elected board members are Tafadzwa Benza, Thomas Marambanyika, Kudzai Kadzombe, Brighton Ushendibaba, Davison Muchena and Alice Zeura.
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