Zimpapers Sports Hub
ONE of domestic football’s most dedicated servants, Sharif Mussa, is counting on his vast experience and extensive network to help him transform the national game’s landscape if the ZIFA Congress gives him the mandate to be on the executive board.
He has been part of the game since introducing himself as a volunteer during the 1995 Sixth All-Africa Games.
He has since risen through the ranks to on the CAF and COSAFA books as a General Co-ordinator and a member of the competitions committee.
“It’s not really about me or the others but it’s about what I can offer to football which is important,’’ Mussa said.
“I think I have garnered enough experience to add value to the running of the Zimbabwe Football Association.
“I have been in the game for more than a decade, serving in different capacities.
“At the end of the day, what we all want to see is a corrupt-free system which protects the integrity of the game.
“I think we need a sound dispute resolution set-up to avoid letting football issues be taken elsewhere.
“That removes credibility and damages the game’s reputation, so to say, and obviously sponsors do not want to be associated with something that has got a tainted image for obvious reasons.”
He added:
“We can have integrity in the association, which I stand for, we can have good facilities and everything else in place but if you are not winning, then the value ceases to be seen.
“We need to capacitate our technical departments and make sure they get as much exposure as they can have for us to be successful.
“We need to take care of the players’ welfare both active and retired. It is our responsibility to create safety nets for the retired footballers so that they can still continue to earn a living well after their playing days.”