LAZAROUS MUHONI HAILS BUSINESSMEN INVESTING IN FOOTBALL

Langton Nyakwenda

FORMER Zimbabwe international forward Lazarus “Mali” Muhoni has hailed individuals bankrolling football clubs and believes now is the time for ZIFA to reclaim its front row seat as the main actor in football development.

Over the years, clubs owned by individual businessmen have emerged and some have gone to become champions.

Simba Bhora, Motor Action, Gunners, CAPS United and Amazulu are some of the clubs who are owned by individuals and won the championship.

“We should not forget people who contributed towards the development of football in Zimbabwe,” says Muhoni.

“The likes of Eric Rosen (Motor Action), Farai Jere (CAPS United), Innocent Benza (Herentals ),Twine Phiri (CAPS United), Douglas Tanyanyiwa (Douglas Warriors) and Walter Magaya (Yadah) have done or did well.

“Cuthbert Chitima transformed Gunners and made them PSL champions in 2009.

“We want more people like them to come and assist in the development of soccer.

“Scott Sakupwanya and Wicknell Chivhayo are doing well with their Scottland FC project.”

He is hoping the ZIFA elections will usher in a football leadership that cares about development of the game from the grassroots.

“The new ZIFA president should be someone who is a genuine football person. He should be someone who knows how to run the association and has good leadership qualities.

“He should be able to lead and make sure the football association is accountable.

“FIFA funds should be used accordingly, funds for development should be channelled towards that.

“Football starts at the grassroots level so, as a country, we should invest our energy and resources towards that.

“Our future will be doomed if we do not do that.”

He added:

“We need a ZIFA president who protects the interests of the Premier Soccer League teams, the referees and all the support structures.

“To be honest, during our time, those who were at ZIFA were not doing much in terms of that, maybe because they didn’t take football as a business.

“But as a country we can still correct things and copy other nations like South Africa who treat football as a business.”