Zim still in the woods as Kenya is back on Fifa bo...

Zim still in the woods as Kenya is back on Fifa books

Philemon Jambaya

Zimbabwean football continues in isolation despite calls by stakeholders for the reinstatement of the scandal-accused Felton Kamambo-led executive of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).

World football governing body Fifa has communicated with the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) several times that they only recognise the Kamambo-led leadership.

However, the SRC has been adamant they will not take that route despite Fifa’s stance that they do not recognise any third party in its affairs.

Recently, the SRC released an audit report that showed that US$600 000 from Zifa coffers was unaccounted for.

Surprisingly, a few weeks before the audit report was released, Fifa wrote to the current Zifa executive led by Gift Banda not to use funds in Zifa accounts.

Kenya’s football body, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was banned together with Zimbabwe in November 2021 over accusations of interference in football matters.

The two football associations tried to be stubborn but Fifa stood its ground, leading to Kenya reinstating the Fifa-recognised executive.

The Bureau of the Fifa Council decided to lift the suspension that was imposed on the FKF in February 2022 in accordance with article 16 of Fifa Statutes.

The decision was taken following a letter sent by FKF General Secretary Barry Otieno to Fifa, in which he confirmed that the Kenyan government, as represented by the newly-appointed Cabinet Secretary for Sports, the Hon. Ababu Namwamba, had reinstated the FKF Executive Committee with immediate effect.

The FKF General Secretary further asserted that the FKF offices had been handed back to the association’s elected leadership.

Friends of the Warriors Secretary-General Zivanai Muwashu said that fans will hold SRC to account for destroying future generations.

“As fans, the owners of the game, we believe and now very strongly that SRC is conniving with enemies of Zimbabwean football to deprive the future generations who are looking at football as an escape from poverty. We demand the unconditional reinstatement of the Kamambo board,” Muwashu said.

“Football unites people. We will hold SRC accountable for destroying the future of generations,” he added.

Some football fans who spoke to ZimNow believe that the SRC is playing cheap politics.

A section of fans want the SRC to reinstate the Kamambo executive and deal with the matters being raised through Fifa and Zifa procedures.

“It is so disheartening that the SRC thinks that they can change how Fifa operates. The simplest thing to do here is to reinstate Kamambo and his executive rather than what they are doing, the SRC is actually killing football,” Peter Dhliwayo of Highfield said.

Some Warriors players, including France-based Marshal Munetsi, have been calling on the SRC to reinstate the Kamambo-led executive.

“This ban has affected young players who have an ambition to be like me by coming to Europe,” the Stade de Reims man told BBC Sport Africa.

“It’s playing for my national team that gave me the opportunity to play against big countries and big players. It’s something that is sad and frustrating for us as a country, and for the players.

“It’s a very complicated topic and I just hope the people involved can solve this because Fifa puts these rules [in place] to protect football.

“If our government doesn’t respect this, then we don’t deserve to play. I just hope the government can do the right thing and make sure we are able to play in the coming games,” Munetsi added.