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Robert Mutsauki

Collin Matiza Sports Editor
AFTER having spent the past three-and-a-half-years working in Abuja, Nigeria, as technical director of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, Robert Mutsauki has decided to pack his bags and return home to Zimbabwe where he has opened an international sports consultancy company.

Mutsauki, the former chief executive of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, revealed yesterday that he has quit Anoca, the organisation he joined in January 2011, and has now ventured into international sports consultancy.

In fact, Mutsauki said he has opened his own independent sports management consulting company – RM Sports Management – and it will be based in Mabelreign, Harare.

“I left Anoca on June 30 at the expiration of my contract of employment with them. I had been there for exactly three-and-a-half-years based at their headquarters in Abuja. In fact, I have not quit Anoca, I wouldn’t call it quitting but I am moving on to a new territory because that’s what contracts are about, it’s either they are extended or you move on.

“But I believe that I needed a new challenge even though I am quite satisfied with my contribution to Anoca and its programmes. I don’t think I would have really grown beyond the stage I have reached professionally if I had stayed on at Anoca . . I should grow.

“And I really think I could go on working professionally beyond the stage that I have reached. This is getting out of your comfort zone (of being an employee) and charting into a new territory (of being an employer).

“The other thing is that I am 55 years old now, so maybe this is the right time to make that move so that I can be active in the next 10-15 years before I contemplate retirement . . . I have also left a footprint in other areas from being a sports administrator and leader, and now I have a new challenging territory,” Mutsauki said.

The veteran sports administrator said his new sports consultancy company will “collaborate” with sports organisations, educational institutions and other (key) stakeholders both locally and internationally.

Among other things, RM Sports Management will be helping interested sporting associations in various fields of sports consultancy such as corporate governance, strategic planning and management, team building, resource mobilisation (including sponsorship), project management, media management and relations, and training of national course directors.

“I am looking at the opportunities that are there (in Zimbabwe). In Zimbabwe sport is a growing industry so there are opportunities (to explore) but I’m going to be an international sports consultant.

“I will not only be looking at the local market but I will be working within Africa and collaborating with other international organisations abroad. For example, in Africa I can work with the National Olympic Committees because I have already been working with them before and I know the network and their needs,” Mutsauki said.

He said his new set-up will be modelled along the same lines as that of Senegal-based international sports consultancy company, Jappo, that works with different international sports organisations and federations, including the International Olympic Committee.

“Like I said before, my company will be based here in Harare. It is still in its early stages of development but it will have a professional set up with an office. Initially, it’s just me (in charge) but I may become an employer in the not-too-distant-future. I will deal with both the local and international market because there are opportunities both locally and internationally.

“I would like to work with stakeholders who need my expertise and I want to realise my full potential. There are people who did well in sport but they did not utilise their exposure . . I need to use the brand which I built over the years.

“As a matter of fact, I will be leaving for Marrakech, Morocco, this week for 10 days. I have been invited as a special guest by the Confederation of African Athletics, who are holding their congress and the 19th edition of the African Track and Field Championships.

“You may recall that I was a member of the CAA council from 1995-1999 and this explains the relationship. But I accepted the invitation as I see it as a business opportunity which might generate future prospects for RM Sports Management.

“This should be considered as my first assignment as an international sports consultant. But what would be important is for me to put in some investment in time and money, particularly in the initial stages because you can’t reap where you did not sow,” Mutsauki said.