Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
ASPIRING Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda has said that if voted into office, he will pursue constitutionalism and ensure that all corners of the country get a fair share of benefits from the mother body.
The much-anticipated Zifa Executive Committee elections will be held in Harare on Saturday and have attracted a lot of interest.
According to the new constitution, the Zifa Executive Committee will have 11 members, the president and two deputies, one of whom should be a woman as well as eight board members, six that will be voted for, with the Premier Soccer League and the Women’s Premier Soccer League seconding a candidate each to make a total of 11 members.
Sibanda, an ex-Zifa vice president, said it was important that all provinces and regions benefit from Zifa programmes and that councillors must be allowed to fully exercise their mandate.
“My unfinished business from previous executives fuels my resolve to pursue constitutionalism, ensuring that administrators operate without hindrance. My advocacy for transparency, accountability, fairness, inclusivity and financial stability across all Zifa structures is not mere rhetoric. It is a commitment to nurturing a culture of integrity within the organisation.
“I will ensure that we set up a vibrant finance and marketing committee and liaise at all levels with the government, corporate sector, Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC), and other key stakeholders, local and abroad, to create a Zifa brand that is attractive to financial partners.
“I will also work towards establishing a monitoring and evaluation committee that will keep tabs on all Zifa programmes and ensure accountability and implementation of resolutions. Football is now a business and Zifa cannot continue to lag. Once Zifa is run with a business approach, there will be financial benefits to players, coaches and referees and returns to clubs and academies across all levels. This will in turn ensure success for men’s teams, women’s teams, junior teams, academies, Beach Soccer, Area Zones, Five-A-Side, referees, coaches, schools and colleges.
“I will also push for a robust competition framework for all age groups across the board to participate in local and international competitions, and a quarter system for women in administration across the board so that women are well represented. Remuneration for women’s national teams must also be prioritised and all promises made to them in the past must be followed up,” he said.
He said there is a need for Zifa to give financial support for training as coaches and administrators to former soccer players, both men and women and also ensure that councillors are given the space to carry out their mandate.
“Councillors are always on the ground and they know the needs and wants of their respective areas that is why I am saying they have a big role to play to ensure continuity and development.
“When development grants come from Fifa, councillors must have a say and that money must be seen filtering down to their areas. We must also respect them and give them privilege cards to watch Premier League and Division One games for free because they are the owners of the game as the parliament of football,” he said.
Sibanda added that the new board has to work with local councils and Government to ensure that venues are developed to Fifa and Caf acceptable standards, to avoid a situation where national teams play home matches away from home.
“Central to my vision is the establishment of comprehensive development programmes for both men and women players. I aim to prioritise junior leagues and women’s football, advocating for all Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams to field youth and women’s teams in alignment with Fifa club licensing requirements. My strategy emphasises nurturing talent from a young age, ensuring that the future of Zimbabwean football is both inclusive and competitive.
“I aim to work closely with Nash, Naph and tertiary colleges to cultivate the skills of future soccer stars from an early age. Our programmes must also look at all areas in the country and also include other areas like Beach Soccer, Area Zones, Five-A-Side, schools and colleges.
“A lot of work has been done by some individuals and companies to develop women’s football, we must appreciate them and support them so that the girl child can earn a living from football like the boy child,” he said.
Sibanda, a former Highlanders executive and Five-A-Side pioneer in the region, will compete with former PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele, Highlanders board member Peter Dube, Simba Takavada and Francis Nyamutsamba for the men’s vice president post, while Mavis Gumbo, Patience Mutumwa, Winnet Murota, Joyce Kapota and Loveness Mukura will square up for the women’s vice president slot.
