ASPIRING Zifa board member Sharif Mussa wants to put an end to the association’s problems that include corruption, factionalism, lack of strategic framework, poor governance structures and lack of transparency, among many other difficulties, so that Zifa can ultimately operate as a viable business.
Mussa is a successful businessman in his own right and he has presented what is probably the most impressive list of promises compared to his rivals who have shared theirs for public consumption.
Refreshingly, Mussa picks on issues some of the candidates have failed to tackle in their list of promises and he seems to have a clear plan of what Zifa can achieve in this tenure if he is elected into office.
Some of the candidates have failed to go beyond the rhetoric of infrastructure, grassroots development and women’s football development.
Mussa, in his blueprint, has identified a plethora of problems that have bedevilled Zifa and has come up with ways to tackle them and allow the game to finally blossom after years of struggle.
The former Warriors team manager, who has worked under various Zifa boards since 2003, is concerned about lack of constitutionalism, legacy debts, lack of corporate appeal, lack of compliance with statutes, dysfunctional structures, player welfare, failure to exploit global goodwill and lack of a development pathway.
And because of this, he believes he can help Zifa run as a business, contribute to the institution of credible audit process, re-engagement of sponsors, Sports and Recreation Commission, Caf, Cosafa and Fifa.
He wants to establish a diaspora fans chapter and business chambers, restructure mainstream football, restructure devolution through football profits around the country as well as facilitate tax exemptions and rebates for corporates involved in football.
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One of his main goals is to push for the re-establishment of the Zifa Cup, which has been abandoned for many years due to failure to attract sponsorship by previous boards.
He lists achievable goals in the first 100 days in office, which include, among many others, appointment of a vibrant marketing agency for Zifa, staff rationalisation for better efficiency and effectiveness, facilitation of Zifa (Pvt) Ltd as the investment vehicle, deploying local personnel at Cosafa, Caf and Fifa standing committees, launch of the FA Cup, opening of Zifa sports shops as well as the re-engagement of the corporate sector.
Mussa is one of 38 candidates vying for the six ordinary board member positions and he is one of the most qualified, having spent so much time in football.
He was team manager in the national team at various tournaments that include the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon as well as at the 2014 Chan tournament in South Africa, where the Warriors finished a credible fourth.
He is extensively networked and has a requisite business and football background.
He will compete against current and former football administrators, former players as well as business people, but he is confident that his promises will win the hearts of the councilors.
