The ManicaPost
THIS article was written by former PSL official Mwandibhuya Mutepfa and edited by Ray Bande to suit this publication
THE recent directive by Zifa to Premier Soccer League to the effort that the top flight league should appoint Kenny Mubayiwa, the Harare business man and chairman of Dynamos sets another stage for a big fight.
The PSL have since responded arguing that the mother body has no constitutional right to do that. Some of the questions that puzzles the soccer loving fans are, is it correct for the national association to give such directives to its affiliates?
Every time there is a fight between Zifa and its affiliates, who is the biggest loser?
Before I go into detail of the Zifa, PSL standoff, let me take this opportunity to congratulate Philip Chiyangwa, the Zifa president for being elected the President of the Council of the Southern African Football Associations, COSAFA.
I want to wish you the best and hope that your election will also continue to bring in good fortunes for Zimbabwe as far as football is concerned. ”Zvakaitwa Tsivo!”.
Coming back to the boardroom madness and squabbles, Zifa and PSL are still to resolve the issue of how many teams will be relegated and promoted for this just ended soccer season. The directive by the national association on who should lead the top flight league causes more confusion and controversy.
On December 10, ZIFA wrote to PSL directing them that they should appoint Kenny Mubayiwa as the acting PSL chairman. The position fell vacant after ZIFA suspended Peter Dube for alleged unbecoming behaviour at a hot ZIFA council meeting that also deliberated the issue of relegation and promotion.
Dube has not yet been brought before a disciplinary hearing up to now whilst at the same time PSL have not had a vice-chairman for a long time. Every time there is turmoil in the football corridors, football is the biggest loser and sponsors always want not to be associated with the kind of madness.
At the end of 2003 Castle Lager Premiership soccer season, I was part of the PSL management team that was negotiating sponsorship for 2004 with national breweries.
Among the issues that the sponsor brought up was the need to eliminate or reduce controversy in football. We were requesting an increase of the sponsorship.
One of the directors of Natbrew was very blunt and told us that while football commands the biggest following, it also associated with madness such that sponsors are tempted to stay away. Football is supposed to be used as a vehicle to market sponsors brands and products.
But when the same vehicle is always on the wrong side of its regulations and statutes, sponsors always find no reason why they should continue to be associated with the game. In the process sometimes football is short changed and sponsors do not give what football deserves arguing that there is too much controversy in the game. On the other side they enjoy millage throughout the year when games are being played.
The continued fight between Zifa and PSL only works negatively to both the national association and the top league. No sponsor will also want to entertain Zifa because they are also part of the problem. It should, however, be noted that it is not Chiyangwa’s administration to have these kind of wars with PSL first.
Even some of his predecessors also had their fair share. But the issue is if these institutions are guided by their statutes and follow them religiously, are we supposed to have these fights.
The Premier soccer League, in their letter to Zifa have argued that the mother body has no constitutional right to give them a direct on who should lead them, also arguing that even the article (Article 34 (e) ) Zifa is trying to use does not give them those powers. It is important to note that football have always been the loser in these fights. Some few years back PSL lost Econet wireless sponsorship through the same kind of fights which are also sometimes experienced even at club level. Today it is Dynamos FC complaining that Caps United took their player unprocedurally, but tomorrow it’s Harare City making the same kind of complain on Dynamos FC. All this madness Mr Zifa president should be eliminated in our game of football if we are to attract more and better sponsors.
On the issue of directives to PSL, Tsivo let me say, please don’t copy from your predecessors because it will kill our football. Surely both ZIFA and PSL’s regulations and statutes have outlined procedures on how to handle disputes including bringing Peter Dube before a disciplinary hearing on time.
Eko eko Tsivo, Mbwetete, Mwana waZvimba, this business of giving directives does not work but only kills football and the associated madness scare away current and potential sponsors. Lastly, let me also congratulate you for the success of the U17 boys football team at the just ended African Union Sports Council Region five U 20 Youth Games.
Mwandibhuya Mutepfa is a former domestic football administrator who served in different capacities prior to his relocation to the Diaspora. He writes in his personal capacity and reflects the thoughts and opinions of the author.
