Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira in BULAWAYO
ZIMBABWEAN football has long been plagued by financial mismanagement, with allegations of corruption and embezzlement casting a shadow over the sport.
However, Edward Mutukwa, a serving senior army officer and a seasoned football administrator with over 20 years of experience, has vowed to bring an end to this era of mismanagement if elected onto the ZIFA board.
Mutukwa vows to eradicate financial mismanagement and irregularities.
He also aims to align institutional procedures with regional and global standards, and integrate data analysts with existing systems for scouting, coaching and sports science departments.
Additionally, he seeks to achieve seamless data exchange among affiliates and stakeholders and re-invigorate grassroots development structures and associated systems.
“Once elected, I promise to hit the ground running and tackle the financial mismanagement and irregularities that have plagued ZIFA for far too long. I will work tirelessly to ensure that our institutional procedures are aligned with regional and global standards and that we are using data-driven decision-making to inform our scouting, coaching, and sports science departments.”
“I am committed to achieving seamless data exchange amongst affiliates and stakeholders and to reinvigorating our grassroots development structures and associated systems. This will require collaboration and coordination with a wide range of stakeholders but I am confident that together, we can achieve great things,” said Mutukwa.
“My vision for ZIFA is one of transparency, accountability, and excellence. I believe that with the right leadership and the right vision, we can take Zimbabwean football to new heights and make a real difference in the lives of our players, coaches, and fans.
“I am excited about the prospect of serving on the ZIFA board and contributing my skills and experience to the development of our beautiful game,” said Mutukwa.
His journey in football administration began when he was involved with Buffaloes in Mutare during their Premier Soccer League days.
His leadership and expertise helped shape the club into a formidable force. In 2020, the veteran football administrator’s acumen breathed some life into Black Rhinos at a time the army side had become a pale shadow of the team that won the championship title in 1984. After two decades of leading club football in both the first and second tiers of Zimbabwean club football, Mutukwa believes the time is now ripe for him to take his skills to ZIFA.
He has worked through the ladder of the army teams from Buffaloes to Black Rhinos.
Mutukwa, a colonel in the army, has also played a pivotal role in the development of football through sponsoring junior football structures.
He has been sponsoring junior football development in his rural home of Chiweshe where he has established an academy.
A holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, a Master of Science degree in Big Data Analytics, Master of Science degree in International studies, he is currently pursuing doctorate in economics at the University of Zimbabwe.
