The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
BLACK RHINOS secretary Edward Mutukwa has become the latest club football administrator to publicly declare his interest in next year’s ZIFA elections.
Although the actual date of the polls has not yet been announced, ZIFA are constitutionally due for elections in 2022.
Mutukwa becomes the second club administrator after Highlanders vice chairperson Modern Ngwenya to take aim at a ZIFA board post.
Ngwenya announced a fortnight ago that he would be leaving the Bosso administration to focus on the lofty national post.
Mutukwa wants to challenge for the ZIFA board member (finance) post, which is currently held by Philemon Machana, who has doubled as acting vice president since January 2019 following the controversial suspension of Gift Banda.
He has been one of the administrators who have been questioning the way ZIFA have gone about their business.
In what he has termed “Operation Restore Zim Football”, the Rhinos secretary says he is fed up with the way ZIFA has allegedly been mishandling funds from the world soccer governing body, FIFA.
He was not particularly amused with the way the association and Premier Soccer League clubs haggled over the manner in which the US$1,5 million rescue package from FIFA to help restart football was handled.
The package was meant to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus and ensure a safe return of the game in the midst of the deadly pandemic.
Zimbabwe’s ignominious exit from the 2022 World Cup qualifying race also weighed on Mutukwa.
The Warriors are bottom of Group G with one point and have scored once in four qualifiers.
They have now gone for nine matches without a win in all competitions.
The last time Zimbabwe won was in March when the Warriors beat Botswana 1-0 in Francistown to complete their qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Although ZIFA last week publicly apologised for the Warriors’ calamitous campaign, Mutukwa believes the game’s administration needs a complete overhaul.
“People are fed up with press statements; they want results.
“Our pride as a football nation is at stake. It’s no longer time for the electorate to vote on lines of chizivano (nepotism) or chiokomuhomwe (bribery).
“The mentality should change…capable hands are now needed. That’s why I am entering the race for a place in the ZIFA board.
“There’s need to sanitise relations between ZIFA and the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
“The SRC as the regulatory body need respect. They are the link between football and Government.
“I believe this route will entice the Government to support all our national football teams unreservedly,” he said.
A frosty relationship exists between Felton Kamambo’s board and the SRC.
“I am in the race for the ZIFA board member (finance) and I assure the football-loving nation that issues of finance will be prudently accounted for such that our national team won’t be a disgrace to the nation and the international world.
“I am a tried and trusted football administrator, an economist and data analyst.
“I believe with the right personnel at ZIFA, our football will improve… it’s now ‘Operation Restore Zim Football’.”
With better planning, he added, ZIFA could have ensured the Warriors did not travel from Ghana on the eve of their reverse fixture against the Black Stars at the National Sports Stadium.
“What happened is a clear sign of lack of foresight in planning. Financial resources for a chartered plane would have been reserved given the short space of time between the two matches.
“If we expect the team to play its part, let’s also rise and be professional.
“The national team is not run like a boozers’ club.
“Why should we always tamper with the national symbol of pride?”
Ends
