The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere Sports Reporter
NEWLY-ELECTED Zifa regional chairmen Piraishe Mabhena and Felton Kamambo say their reign over the next four years will not be business as usual as they seek to reassert the importance of lower divisions.
In separate interviews with The Sunday Mail Sport at their respective bases, the duo concurred that football in the second-tier league was sliding into oblivion while administrators enjoy non scrutiny as whistle-blowers concentrate on the national stage.
A disturbing trend where veterans and premiership rejects are finding rehabilitation in Division One has taken root in local football, shutting out youngsters who have in the past used that platform as their springboard.
Administrative flaws that go unreported have also been rampant, with violence, match-fixing and the use of unregistered players akin to an amateur league having also plagued Division One football.
It is against this background that the men entrusted with the custody of the game at that level for their term reckon the slide has to be arrested.
“We are inheriting a project that has numerous historical problems, with the biggest one being the lack of sponsorship,” Kamambo, of the Central Region, says as he sits down for an interview in Kwekwe.
“It’s like we are in an island where bridges to the national league are non-existent, just as is the case with the provinces that should be feeding us.
“The sad thing is administrators have not been standing up to these problems as the spotlight appears to be firmly fixed on events at the national stage.
“But we can’t continue watching the slide; my board will prioritise strict adherence to corporate governance ethos with which I am confident sponsorship will start flowing in. We will be knocking more frequently at the doors of our national leaders in a bid to synchronise our operations,” Kamambo said.
On his part, Mabhena said he dreams of an accountable leadership for the Eastern region under his watch.
“What we want to see is a well-organised football environment that will make us an attractive brand. Obviously this can only be achieved if the leadership can stand up to its decisions and mandate.
“A lot has been said about the potential value that lies in our game and that is what we would want to foster, helping clubs develop such things as their own stadia.
“Of utmost importance is the issue of sponsorship and we would like to continue with the Sylvia Dube Memorial Cup as well as introduce a tournament that will see top flight teams in our region battling it out with Division One table-toppers,” Mabhena said.
Kamambo reckons the second-tier league can even benefit from the absence of top flight football on ZBC TV as the national broadcaster can air Division One football, thus “unlocking the value of our brand”.
“We can be the biggest beneficiaries of the current impasse between PSL and ZBC by offering our games to the national broadcaster. If Division One football can be televised in other parts of the world successfully, I do not see why we cannot follow suit.
The chairmen said they will also introduce scorecards for board members as part of efforts to keep them on their toes with the under-performing either being re-assigned or asking the Zifa Assembly to recall them.
