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Mr Gwindi

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIFA presidential candidate Leslie Gwindi says a sound football mind and not an individual’s riches is needed to take the game out of the dire circumstances that Zimbabwe finds itself in as he launched his manifesto ahead of the weekend polls.
Gwindi has entered the race for the association’s top seat pitting him with incumbent Cuthbert Dube, Trevor Carelse-Juul and Nigel Munyati.
Officially launching his manifesto in Harare yesterday, Gwindi outlined his vision for the game and pledged to fight hard to achieve his goals if elected into the office on Saturday.

The Harare City chairman decided to release his blue-print, just a day after the High Court had dismissed a bid by Harare lawyer and football administrator Saidi Sangula’s to stop the elections.

Sangula had sought to have the polls deferred, citing irregularities in the electoral process. Gwindi said his blueprint for the game is based on “vision, passion and action.”

“Naturally my passion begets my key pillars (of beliefs). I have strong practical beliefs — yes, principles that are borne out of typical Zimbabwean home, enhanced by my professional knowledge, groomed by contacts and experience yet improved by international exposure. These stand me in good stead in the game.

“I will fight, especially for the little guys. I have done it before, was dishonestly removed from football administration for that fight. I fought back in, won the fight and will not hesitate to support fair play which is hallmark of this game.

“I will always want to look beyond today. I have the capacity to understand the issues around football domestically and internationally, rallying everyone to work to a common vision in sorting out the legal and administrative mess ostracising our game in Zimbabwe,” said Gwindi.

In his manifesto, Gwindi outlined 22 key areas which he hopes to improve in the next four years beginning with the re-establishment of the respect for the constitution, re-establishment of the authority of the Zifa Assembly, restructuring the secretariat, grassroots football development for both boys and girls, good corporate governance and sound financial management.

Gwindi also indicated that there is need to make the Zifa Unity Cup vibrant whether under a sponsor banner of the national association as it is crucial for development.

The former Dynamos and Premier Soccer League secretary-general also said he would act “to re-establish trust and sprucing up the image of the association to attract sponsorship.

“Accountability in football is relational and every model we create has checks and balances to ensure we reconcile all our transactions in an open and honesty sphere to enable all our partners to understand us as a brand worthy their trust and support.

“Routine audits of our conduct offer viability and sustainability so we can attract sponsorship which the game lacks. Relying on individual benevolence is dangerous and devalues our brand,” said Gwindi.

About the ballooning Zifa debts which are now believed to be over US$5m, Gwindi said he would seek assistance from Fifa and the government to ensure that all the arrears are settled.

Gwindi also said he had been meeting with Zifa councillors who form the association’s Zifa Electoral College over the past few days and is confident of getting thumbs up.

“We have discussed on face value and have gone right round the country on a campaign trail and they have been impressed by our presentations. The key issues that have been raised by the constituencies is how do we implement the blue print?

“I told them that you made an experiment over the last four years and some of us were very clear that our football went into the dark ages during that period.

“Now that they are wiser, I hope they will make the right decisions, going forward. Two of the running guys have been in the previous board and have failed to uplift our football and it will be a disaster if they are retained. One of my rivals has been away from our football for more than 21 years, he does not know most of the people currently involved on a personal level.”

Gwindi also pointed out 11 areas he felt the out-going Zifa board came short on and top of his list is the Asiagate scandal, the failure to honour the Caf Under-17 and Under-20 assignments which risked bans, the national team’s failure to qualify for Africa Cup of Nations, the bloating debts and inability to produce audited accounts.

“The Asiagate was badly handled and up to now it’s not even completed. Why not let bygones be bygones. It seems the whole thing was personalised. For example Thomas Sweswe has paid his appeal fees but up to now nothing has moved. I promise that we will kiss and merry after my first 60 days in office on Asiagate, “he said.

Gwindi made a promise to restore the authority of the Zifa Assembly, which is the supreme football making body in Zimbabwe, and adherence to the constitution to restore good governance.

“If elected, I hope to see to it that the Zifa constitution is adhered to and followed. All the problems that we had over the years were because the constitution was not being followed and it was made to look like a secretive document. Right now the Zifa board was giving directions to the Council instead of the Assembly supervising the executive,” he said. Gwindi also promised accountability, adherence to constitution, good governance, development and sustenance of dynamic women’s leagues and junior football which he believes are key in the long-term.