MINISTRY, SRC NOT BACKING DOWN ON ZIFA INVESTIGATIONS

• Minister Coventry avoids pre-emptying findings
• ‘No association must be run by unqualified people’

By Ephraim Shoko

Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry has avoided pre-emptying her views on the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).
But instead, she has stated in no uncertain terms that associations should be run by people that have done sports administration.
That in itself is, however, a big blow to ZIFA, which has often acted in an executive manner that compromises the corporate governance principles.
Although the Zifa secretariat, which is understaffed, is made up of qualified people, the tendency by some board members to go beyond just policy making, has greatly compromised the association.
That situation has led to a direct confrontation with the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), which is investigating the association before it can submit a final report to the Ministry.
“The office of the Sports and Recreation Commission speaks to me daily. They keep my office appraised. In terms of the latest decisions that have been made concerning Zifa, I’m not going to comment,” Minister Coventry said, adding, “Investigations are ongoing.”
Minister Coventry was speaking at her offices where she congratulated Zimbabwean Brandon “Boika” Denes, who was crowned the new WBO Africa welterweight champion recently.
“The people that are running associations must have some sort of training. They should have some sort of sports administration. That is when you then learn about the integrity of sport.”
The SRC announced the suspension of the Zifa chief executive Joseph Mamutse over the handling of national team trips, deemed to be against the country’s laws under Covid-19 guidelines.
Indications on the ground though show Mamutse is just a pawn in a much more complex game of chess, with board members likely to account for some of the decisions made.
SRC and the Ministry’s actions are likely to be viewed as Government interference by world football organisation FIFA, and suspension of the country from all international competitions a likely result.
While this will be a big blow to the country, it could leave those running Zifa in the open, with nowhere to run.
The same scenario happened with Cricket, and ZC have since tried to live in harmony with the Ministry ever since ICC lifted their suspension.
But unlike Zifa, suspension of the country from world football could also totally wipe them out as they are just two years from elections.
“For the process of investigations to progress freely, I don’t think I should comment on that. In terms of integrity, which keeps cropping up, it is something I’m hopeful the bill (on sports integrity) will allow,” the Minister said.
Minister Coventry said once the bill is out, “associations should be fully compliant and uphold the integrity of sport”.
“If any national association does not do that, there will be national laws that allow us to deal with them adequately,” she said.
Apart from the Ministry and SRC confrontation, Zifa often experience in-house fighting, leaving football suffering. If there is in-house fighting in associations, she said, there is no law that can guide them.
The Zimbabwean Sports Minister said once they are in full control, it will require them to be always in control.
“When we want rights, there is a lot of responsibility that comes with that,” she said. Nhau/Indaba