THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) on Monday announced the list of candidates that passed an eligibility test to contest in the January 25 elections.
The biggest shock was the failure by outgoing Premier Soccer League chairperson Farai Jere to pass the test.
The administrator, who was confident of winning the Zifa top post, will watch the proceedings from the sidelines because of late submission of supporting documents after vetting had been completed.
Instead former Caps United president Twine Phiri, business executive Nqobile Magwizi, Northern Region Soccer League chairperson Martin Kweza, ex-Zifa board member Philemon Machana, former Highlander and Dynamos striker Makwinje Phiri and administrator Marshall Gore will compete for the Zifa presidency.
Jere would have been one of the favourites for the top post due to the good leadership qualities he exhibited at the Premier Soccer League.
The Caps United owner said he would not contest the decision as he wanted football to be the winner, although the Zifa constitution has a provision for aggrieved persons to appeal.
He deserves credit for being gracious in defeat, a test many have failed.
Jere has a role to play in football by virtue of owning one of the biggest clubs, Caps United, and as chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on sports.
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These two portfolios are key components of local football.
The executive committee to be ushered into office on January 25 must start on a clean slate and this is why Jere’s decision will go a long way in removing the tension that is associated with this election.
Work begins now for the candidates who passed the test to sell their manifestoes to 78 delegates that will vote at the congress.
The delegates will be keen to know how the candidates intend to develop local football.
An election is about ideas and not the mudslinging that was witnessed in the run-up to Monday's announcement of candidates that passed the eligibility test.
An election is not a zero sum game but a platform for choosing the best among a field of candidates.
Elections have previously left the game divided as the victors were not magnanimous in victory while the vanquished chose not to be gracious in defeat. Such acrimony left local football divided, impeding its growth.
The best candidate must win, not because they have greased the palms of delegates, but should do so on the strength of what they have to offer to local football.
Gone are the days when delegates were booked in a hotel and promised heaven on earth only to turn around and depose the candidates that appeared like knights in shining armour.
This is one of the major drawbacks if the vote is up for sale where the highest bidder wins the race.
Local football needs healing and all hands on deck after more than a year in the wilderness due to a Fifa ban. The past 18 months under the Zifa Normalisation Committee led by Lincoln Mutasa has shown that peace can prevail in local football which acts a magnet to attract sponsors required in local football like what is happening in other national sports associations.
Football is a business. The world over, sponsors stampede to be associated with the beautiful game.
