NEWLY-ELECTED Zifa president, Nqobile Magwizi, has made a heartfelt gesture towards unity, inviting key figures from the recent elections to join hands with him in shaping the future of Zimbabwean football.
In his inaugural acceptance speech, Magwizi extended an olive branch to Walter Magaya, Gift Banda who did not enter the race due to disqualification, and other candidates who contested the presidential and vice-presidential positions, urging them to put aside their differences and work together for the betterment of Zimbabwean football.
"I want to recognise Machana [Philemon], Gore [Marshall], Twine Phiri, Makwinji-Soma Phiri and [Martin] Kweza. I just want to recognise them. I know there are other colleagues [that were disqualified]. We had [Temba] Mliswa, Magaya, [Benjani] Mwaruwari and Banda. We want to recognise all those colleagues who were part of this process and just to thank you for this experience we have shared."
Magwizi reiterated his call for unity while also expressing his gratitude for ascending to the helm of Zimbabwe football saying a combined effort with all stakeholders would deliver the results.
"Together we will forge a united front committed to revitalisation of our sport. To those who contested against me, as I have already expressed, I am very grateful. They are welcome for us to hold hands and work together for the success of Zimbabwean football."
The Zifa president outlined the key pillars that will see Zimbabwe transforming into a beacon of excellence in Africa and beyond.
"We are looking at the issues of transparency, inclusivity and accountability. First and foremost, it is about the institution that we need to build, very important,” Magwizi said.
"We also need to ensure that we attract partners that will work with us to revive our association. We need to find an opportunity to commercialise our association."
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Magwizi also shared his desire to see the national teams playing their matches at home.
"We are also looking at issues to do with infrastructure. Right now most of our games are being played outside of Zimbabwe. And we are keen to bring back our national team to play back here in Zimbabwe as soon as possible," he said.
"So we are looking for support from the corporate sector to help us to achieve this. There are a lot of things that colleagues from Fifa and Caf will guide us on. Obviously we need to be fully constituted as an assembly. It is very important that we get to that point. And when that is done, I think the work will start."
Magwizi wants to convene an all-stakeholders conference to harvest opinions from the custodians of the game for possible implementation by his board.
"But obviously one of the critical things that we need to get to is to make sure that we have an all stakeholders conference where we can make a strategy to buy to the future," he said.
Former Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League Board member finance, Loveness Wadzanai Mukura emerged the woman vice-president. Kenny Ndebele, former Premier Soccer League boss, was voted in as the first vice-president. Tafadzwa Benza, Davison Muchena, Brighton Ushendibaba, Kudzai Kadzombe, Alice Zeure and Thomas Marambanyika made it into the ZIFA executive board.
Meanwhile, Fifa has congratulated Magwizi on his election as Zifa president. In a statement, Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafström said he was looking forward to “build a strong and collaborative relationship with you and your team as we work together to promote and develop the beautiful game of football in Zimbabwe and in Africa”.
“Together with the whole Fifa team, we are here for you and remain available to help you implement your vision and through our different programmes, further strengthen the game at all levels,”Grafström said.
