Chiyangwa unveils his ZIFA gospel

By Petros Kausiyo and Sikhumbuzo Moyo

TRUE to his character, Philip Chiyangwa’s flamboyance shone through the night at a Harare hotel on Saturday as the property mogul unveiled his ZIFA gospel at a glitzy manifesto launch that attracted a huge turnout from the association’s councillors.

It was a night where business was mixed with pleasure with guests also being entertained by songbird Tariro ne gitare.

But there was no escaping that the main business of the night was a platform for Chiyangwa to convince those in the Great Indaba Hall at the Crowne Plaza Monomotapa Hotel that he was ready to take over the mantle at No. 53 Livingstone Avenue.

Chiyangwa unveiled a glossy 18-page manifesto in which the Harare businessman outlined his football gospel and his vision for ZIFA.

Crucially for Chiyangwa in his trailblazing campaign, 48 of the councillors who will be in Harare on December 5 for the ZIFA elections, attended the launch and heard the aspiring president speak of his desire to “Rebuild, Restore and Reposition’’ the troubled soccer mother body.

However, the huge turnout by councillors, who included all the 10 provincial chairpersons, the four regional bosses, representatives of beach soccer, Futsal, tertiary, National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph), National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash), area zones and six Premier Soccer League clubs among them Dynamos, makes the Harare businessman a clear cut favourite to literally walk into 53 Livingstone Avenue after the December 5 elections.

Chiyangwa faces the challenges of South African-based businessman Trevor Carelse-Juul, former Harare City chairman Leslie Gwindi and former Ziscosteel and Warriors defender James Takavada.

Presenting his manifesto at the ceremony that was also graced by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer Karigoka Kaseke, Chiyangwa said his board’s challenge will be to reposition ZIFA as relevant custodians of the beautiful game by restoring and maintaining trust and rebuilding real value so that the nation can earn the attention and respect of all the game’s stakeholders.

“We intend to build an FA brand that is strong and valuable to Zimbabwe and beyond.

“We will develop the brand through consistent management of the FA values, beliefs and product quality, not just at 53 Livingstone Avenue or on the field of play, but wherever the brand touches the owners of the game.

“I intend to rebuild, restore and reposition an FA that delivers inherent value and more to players, fans, corporates, Government and football, an association that stimulates positive relationships and experiences that are grown and nurtured from consistent and effective marketing effort and investment,” said Chiyangwa.

Chiyangwa, who said he will not seek office for the 2018 elections, said in the next 27 months ZIFA must be critiqued by common marketing ratings such as market dominance, longevity, goodwill, fan loyalty and overall market acceptance.

“Together with the board, I will introduce, uphold and make transparent the processes of decision-making. I will give back power to the executive and ultimately to the ZIFA council. Corporate governance is described by some as an environment of trust, ethics, moral values and confidence. “ZIFA needs to rebuild and restore corporate governance so that it can reposition itself as a credible institution. Transparency will be the hallmark of my leadership.

“I intend to run an FA that is transparent, an FA whose doors are open to everyone and anyone who wants to walk in and engage with an interactive, courteous and helpful secretariat that seeks to serve. “We will be open to criticism and we will work to improve ourselves, we will restore transparency and abolish the culture of secrecy and privatisation of ZIFA because the association belongs to the people,” said Chiyangwa.

Chiyangwa is also under no illusions about the task of leading the country’s biggest sport and pleaded for support from all the game’s stakeholders. “Our football is in trouble. I cannot rebuild it alone. I need you my fellow citizens of this great nation Zimbabwe. “I need you to support me to rebuild, restore and reposition Zimbabwean football.’’

He also revealed his desire to work closely with the women football leadership especially focusing on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where the Mighty Warriors will be participating. “Women’s football structures are only visible at the senior level with no corresponding operational structures to mirror the men’s leagues.

“Together with the women football leadership I will prioritise the empowerment of the girl child and lead a wider strategy to increase participation figures for women’s football and support the vision of having it as one of the largest team sports by 2018.

“I will ensure they access their share of FIFA FAP funds’’.

Although he was flanked at the top table by aspiring ZIFA vice-president Omega Sibanda, the chairmen of Northern, Southern and Central regions, Willard Manyengavana, Musa Mandaza and Felton Kamambo, Chiyangwa insisted that anyone seeking to be elected needed to convince the assembly that he was worth their mandate.

Chiyangwa believes that the fact that he was not part of the problems that haunted ZIFA stands him in good stead to approach the hugely polarised association and the poisoned environment in the domestic game with a sober mind. He also scoffed at suggestions that he was coming into football for political expediency, hitting back by saying he was already at the highest levels of political leadership in the country.

“Those are unfounded claims, I am a member of the ZANU-PF Central Committee, the highest body that one can aspire to be,” Chiyangwa said. Chiyangwa also pledged to tap into the country’s football talent that is dotted around the globe by luring those in the Diaspora to become a part of the Zimbabwean game. The Herald