AS the Zimbabwean football fraternity prepares for the upcoming Zifa elections, seasoned administrator Colonel Edward Mutukwa believes he possesses the experience and expertise that the association is crying out for.
With over 20 years of experience in football administration, Mutukwa is gunning for one of the six ordinary executive committee member posts.
His journey in football administration began when he was involved with Buffaloes in Mutare during their Premier Soccer League days.
His leadership and expertise helped shape the club into a formidable force.
In 2020, the veteran football administrator’s acumen breathed some life into Black Rhinos at a time the army side had become a pale shadow of the team that won the Premiership title in 1984.
After two decades of leading club football in both the first and second tiers of Zimbabwean club football, Mutukwa believes the time is now ripe for him to take his skills to Zifa.
“My vision is to make Zimbabwean football competitive, attractive, and sustainable,” Mutukwa told NewsDay Sport.
If Mutukwa makes his way into the Zifa board, his immediate priority will be to push for prudent financial management as well as transparency and accountability in Zifa’s dealings.
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He aims to advocate for alignment of the association’s institutional procedures with regional and global standards in order to elevate Zifa’s governance and operational efficiency to the next level.
Data analytics will also play a crucial role in Mutukwa’s strategy as he believes this would go a long way in enhancing the operations of the scouting, coaching and sports science departments.
In line with this, he will push for data exchange among affiliates and stakeholders to enhance efficiency.
Last but not least, Mutukwa is committed to reinvigorating grassroot development structures and associated systems as part of efforts to nurture young talent and set the stage for Zimbabwean football’s long-term success.
“As a seasoned administrator, I understand the importance of stability and continuity in football governance,” he said.
“My goal is to bring a sense of calm and direction to Zifa, allowing us to focus on developing the sport and nurturing young talent.
“Zimbabwean football has immense potential, but we need to be proactive in harnessing it. As a member of the Zifa board, I plan to work tirelessly to create opportunities for our players, coaches, and administrators, and to ensure that our football is competitive, attractive and sustainable.”
He is one of 38 candidates vying for six posts, where he will compete with former footballers such as Alois Bunjira, Terrence Malunga and Luis Muzhara.
The list includes other known football personalities business people and a few others with lesser profiles.
