Game On Reporter
JUST like a corporate executive he is, ZIFA aspiring candidate Nqobile Magwizi, looked calm and collected as he outlined his vision for the national football association.
The highly qualified Magwizi, who has been in the football trenches at Division One and community level, appeared on ZTN Prime Friday evening.
Magwizi is one of the six candidates vying for the ZIFA presidency, following the disqualification of the controversial Walter Magaya, Themba Mliswa, Farai Jere and Benjani Mwaruwari.
A corporate guru with vast experience in infrastructure development, Magwizi made one big call.
The importance of corporate governance at a Zimbabwe Football Association that for years has been plagued by lack of accountability and sexual harassment of female referees.
“Corporate governance is the backbone of any successful institution,” Magwizi emphasized.
“It is therefore important that we strengthen the institution of ZIFA.
“It will be important for us to have clear roles for the board members and the secretariat. When this is done, we also capacitate the board and the secretariat through training.”
If elected, Magwizi wants to turn ZIFA into a commercial entity.
He wants the organization to run “at the highest level possible, with global standards being implemented.”
Magwizi is now a hot favourite to land the top ZIFA post, but he has to stave off competition from veteran administrators Twine Phiri and Martin Kweza.
UK based Marshal Gore, former Dynamos and Highlanders striker Makwinji Soma Phiri and ex-ZIFA board member Philemon Machana are also in the race.
And Magwizi, who has been preaching the gospel of unity within the football fraternity, intends to hold an all stakeholder meeting once elected.
Zimbabwean football has been a toxic environment where politicking has taken a more front seat than proper football administration.
Magwizi wants to end this.
“Why toxicity prevails is because people don’t have the desire to come together and engage on things have different view on.
“It is my plan that we will have an all stakeholder engagement where we come together and we look at the plans for Zimbabwean football going forward into the future.
“If we are able to do that we will be able to agree on what works and what does not work.
“It will be my honour to lead this discourse, while we engage every participant in Zimbabwean football to ensure that whatever we work towards is a common vision and everyone is putting their foot forward in that direction,” said Magwzi.
Once elected Magwizi intends to come up with a financial model that allows ZIFA to create revenues from different streams, including broadcasting rights.
“I don’t see any challenge if we put our focus on building a strong institution that has proper governance frameworks that we will adhere to, proper audits that we will adhere to.
“It’s something that we should be able to live with and be proud of once this institution is running properly.”
