IT is not good and maybe unfair every week to be criticising one institution but surely one cannot ignore the events unfolding in our football and in particular with the Zifa normalisation committee.
The appointment of the controversial Nyasha Kadenge, the use of WhatsApp messages to call up our foreign-based players, and above all, the non-event Botswana Zebras friendly, all point to an organisation that is in confusion.
Surely, a lot has been said about the Kadenge debacle and it no longer deserves space but to force the cancellation of Castle Lager Premier Soccer League action at the expense of a friendly match that had not been agreed upon speaks volumes about the confusion that our football finds itself in.
Even up to now, the Zifa normalisation committee has not given an explanation as to what exactly happened, which caused the cancellation of PSL matches and later on their reinstatement for this weekend.
Surely, if the normalisation committee cannot arrange a simple friendly match against neighboring Botswana, how do we expect them to successfully organise a high profile home World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, which will be played in a foreign land ?
If the normalisation committee can lower itself to the extent of allowing somebody to call foreign-based players for national duty using a WhatsApp message, then that is bringing shame to the name of the nation.
All this is happening because of the I, or We know-it-all attitude that has taken hold of Zimbabwean football since that day of July 10 when the normalisation committee was installed.
Those in authority or those they have delegated assignments have exhibited this arrogance and the unwillingness to learn, something which has brought all the new problems we are facing today.
- Inside Sport: Local stadiums in urgent need of attention
- Bullets ease relegation fears
- FC Platinum move six points clear
- Clinical Herentals leapfrog Ngezi to sixth
Keep Reading
What we have seen are people who think or believe that they know it all when it comes to football administration when in reality nothing at all is known.
Worse still is the fact that there are one or two members of this Zifa normalisation committee who are full of hatred and their penchant to settle old scores is taking the whole train off its route.
In fact, the normalisation committee should be reminded that they were appointed not because they were too superior or that they know football too much but to work with the Zimbabwean football family to ensure that the game was back to the good days gone by.
Surely, there is nothing wrong in asking for advice from either Wellington Mpandare or Xolisani Gwesela on how it is done rather than to mess things up and sink the name of the country deep into the mud.
Of course, there are problems involving Mpandare and Gwesela still to be resolved, but the fact remains that the two are still part of Zimbabwean football and there is no way they can throw away their national responsibilities because of these issues.
As we approach our two opening World Cup matches against Rwanda and Nigeria, this period is very crucial and it should be approached with unity and a sense of common purpose.
These matches are only one week apart and their success or failure will depend solely on how the normalisation committee will play its game of chess in as far as allocation of duties is concerned.
The normalisation committee already has dates as to when the Warriors are to play and if there are any foreign based players the coach wants for the games, then the players and their clubs should be sounded in time and probably right now.
That, however, is a small challenge compared to the one that is being presented by our hosting of Nigeria’s Super Eagles and for that matter, in Botswana.
This is an assignment that demands the choice of the right people to put in place the logistics - If the Nigerian visit and game is not properly handled, it will have some very serious repercussions.
The ball is now in the normalisation committee’s court to choose their football friends with the right knowledge to assist them in making both, the Rwanda assignment and the Nigerian visit a success.
Failure in those two assignments will reflect badly on the normalisation committee - This is just a warning.
For your comments, views and suggestions [email protected] or WhatsApp on 0773 266 779.
