The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
THE Sports Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe (SLIZ) is pushing for a total rethink of business in sport when Covid-19 is eventually contained.
The pandemic has upended all spheres of life, and sport has been no exception.
However, SLIZ president Russell Mhiribidi believes the entire local sports fraternity has to leverage on the current hiatus to put their houses in order.
“As the Sports Leaders Association of Zimbabwe, we are saying post Covid-19, sports associations must be ready to conduct business in a different way. You know how they say life begins at 40, and Zimbabwe turns 40 this weekend (Saturday 18th April), so let us use this opportunity for a total rethink.
“We recently conducted a survey to see how most sports association around the world have been affected and what they are doing right now, and it is clear that sport as a whole will never be the same again,” he said.
The association says there is need to monetise sport going forward and, most importantly, use international best practice in running it.
“Now is not the time to sit on our laurels.
“I would like to believe that our sports leaders are busy researching on ways they can restart and run their associations better.
“Too much emphasis has been put into long-term athlete development, while at the same time neglecting long-term management development.
“Our managers and leaders are not well-equipped with global trends and need retooling.
“Management courses are imperative going forward,” said Mhiribidi.
Sports associations, he added, need to be more proactive in monetising their craft, particularly considering the financial fallout from the coronavirus.
“We also have issues to deal with spectators, who need to be more proactive when it comes to the financial wealth of their favourite sports and teams.
“They (spectators) also need to be educated, as sports development entails development of the athlete, sports manager facilities and also development of the spectatorship.
“We need to turn these spectators into a real fan base, instead of the glory hunters we see today, and make them understand that they have a stake in the clubs,” he said.
