Kirsty must intervene in Zifa, SRC impasse
THE remarks by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) chairman Gerald Mlotshwa that the his board will not be moved by Fifa’s threats to sanction Zifa over the suspension of its secretary-general, Joseph Mamutse, will not go unchallenged.
Mamutse was suspended last year after sending national teams for international assignments without government approval.
It is unfortunate that Mlotshwa is behaving like a spoilt brat. His actions have disastrous consequences to the beautiful game.
On wonders the motive behind SRC’s move to suspend Mamutse. If SRC is motivated by the need to clean the local game, why not follow procedure?
It seems the SRC has ulterior motives in suspending Mamutse.
Get me right, I am not exonerating Mamutse, but as a soccer-loving Zimbabwean, I am concerned with the approach the Mlotshwa-led board is using in dealing with this issue.
The confrontational approach which SRC is using in dealing with this issue will not help the situation.
It is only a sober approach, which is premised on dialogue that can succeed.
Soccer-loving Zimbabweans should team up against this blatant interference by the country’s supreme sports governing body.
There is no doubt Fifa will descend on Zifa with hippopotamus force and it is the local game that will suffer.
We are happy that Fifa has its doors wide open to help Zimbabwe with technical assistance.
Sports minister Kirsty Coventry knows better. She should, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the impasse.
With the local game already suffering from the effects of COVID-19, the situation will worsen if Fifa closes its financial tapes on Zimbabwe.