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YOU CAN BANK ON ME . . . Trevor Carelse-Juul, who is vying for the ZIFA presidency, addresses the delegates who attended the launch of his manifesto in Harare yesterday

Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter
ZIFA aspiring presidential candidate Trevor Carelse-Juul yesterday launched his election manifesto in Harare brimming with confidence and said the time had come for him to play another big role in the affairs of football in this country. Carelse-Juul was the ZIFA chairman in the era of the immortal Dream Team, but was then removed from office after a fallout with the Sports Commission.

The South Africa-based businessman revealed that he is on a countrywide tour where he is hoping to meet all the 58 councillors on a one-on-one basis and sell his vision to elect him as the ZIFA boss.

He said he has already met about 22 councillors. Carelse-Juul, who said he is a firm believer in God and capped his manifesto launch with a prayer and was also constantly quoting from the Bible during his address, believes he has a calling to help Zimbabwe football.

A number of former players, Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Ernest Kamba, Misheck Chidzambwa and Eric Aisam also attended the launch. Commercial and General Aviation Association of Zimbabwe president Nkosilathi Sibanda, Zimbabwe Golf Association president Mafingei Nyamwanza and former football administrators Lazarus Mhurushomana, Francis Zimunya and Susan Chibizhe attended the function.

“I can assure you that if I come, in two years’ time, not only would we be on our way to qualifying for the World Cup, but the ‘Dream Team reality’ would be happening,” said Carelse-Juul.

“We are sitting with huge debts and football has got to the position where the councillors realised that they have to step in and change things and what is important now is for the councillors to make a right decision for football, not for individuals, not for ego, but for football.

“I am here because I have been called to be here and I believe this is God’s plan, but I understand football is a team game. It cannot be achieved by me alone. Messi (Lionel) cannot win any game I can guarantee you that, or Ronaldo (Cristiano), playing by himself, he has to have a team, which includes all of you here as well.”

He said it was important that football was brought back to the level it had reached when the team was on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup in 1994. “My dream is to see Zimbabwe playing in the World Cup and winning the African Cup (of Nations)and with our ladies going to the Olympics why should we doubt,” he said.

“During the Dream Team era we were ranked in the top 50, 13 games unbeaten. But where are we now, somewhere below 100. “The key challenges that we are facing is well there is the debt and there just hasn’t been sufficient development in football. The stadia are empty.

“I have watched a dozen games in the past couple of months and everywhere I went, the stadia were empty except the wonderful experience I had at the weekend in Mutare watching Division One team Mutare City. Unfortunately they didn’t win, but the support that was there was amazing and the love of football and we can bring that back.”

He said it was a shame that Zimbabwe was turning its back on its football heroes. “I want our great stars to have some dignity in their retirement. I want something be given to these people who have given so much to us,” he said. “It makes me cry when I hear of my friends like Majuta Mpofu and all these people who died, that they were virtually destitutes.

“How can we allow that to happen in football? “And do you really think people that didn’t come from football, who never played football, are able to do that? I don’t believe so. “There are two of us who are standing up, who come from football, in the top two leadership. You know who the other person is (Lincoln Mutasa). Put us in and we will deliver and I can assure you we will not find destitute players again.”

He said it was important that ZIFA was rebranded and people buy into his vision.

“I have a passion for Zimbabwe and I have a passion for our football. I grew up with football, I love the game and everybody involved with the game and this is an election we must win, for the sake of good football in our country, so that the benefits currently denied us may be unlocked for the success of ZIFA.

“I believe God has a plan for Zimbabwe and with the love of the Lord in our football we will succeed beyond imagination. “The opportunity created by the ZIFA congress in October 2015, which has resulted in my entry to be the next president of ZIFA, is a positive development which can result in the rescue of national football in Zimbabwe.

“You will have the opportunity to elect the next ZIFA leadership who should drive a new strategic direction and unite all stakeholders to restore the former glory of ZIFA and the football game in the country, with the support of councillors, service providers, sponsors, FIFA and other stakeholders,” said Carelse-Juul.

He also revealed that he convinced Chicken Inn to have a change of heart and play in the CAF Champions League. Carelse-Juul said there was no problem in him being based in Johannesburg although the businessman revealed on Monday night, during ZTV’s Game Plan programme, that he was in the process of returning to settle home.