FORMER Highlanders vice-chairman and board member Elkanah Dube says there is need for Zifa to mend its image to attract corporate support and this can only be done through good governance.
THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Dube is vying for the Zifa vice-presidency and recently submitted his papers for next week’s election where he will face another former Highlanders executive committee member Omega Sibanda.
The veteran football administrator, who has been in the sport for over a decade, told Southern Eye Sport yesterday that a lot needs to be done for local football.
“I cannot list all of my objectives, but the main one is to strengthen relations between Zifa, Caf, Fifa and all organisations. It is critical to build inter-relations with these organisations because each of them has a function in football,” he said.
“I also hope to continue improving the structures and processes of Zifa in line with Fifa and Caf. The only way to mend the image and credibility of Zifa and Zimbabwean football is through good governance.”
Dube said this revolved around a number of principles such as selflessness, objectivity, integrity, honesty, accountability and open leadership in order to help mend its image.
He hopes Zifa would also look into the performance of each national team and evaluate them as well as build strategies for the future. The Hillside Teachers’ College principal said for the success of Zifa there would be need for everyone to work together.
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“In Swahili there is a saying that a boat will not move forward if everyone is rowing in every direction. Therefore there is need to build these inter-relations,” he said.
“I am not vying for the presidency, but the vice-presidency I would have to work in a manner that complements the president.
“There must be an understanding of how the president functions and get involved in all his decisions.
“There would be a moment when I have to deputise the president, so there would be need to understand his functions.”
Dube said he decided to contest following calls from various people in the football fraternity who believe that he has gained enough experience for the job.
“When (Ndumiso) Gumede indicated that he was not keen to seek another term in office, a number of people approached me and asked me to contest. I have been a football administrator for over a decade and have gained experience from the likes of Ernest ‘Maphepha’ Sibanda,” he said.
Dube’s interest is not only in football, but basketball as well.
He was the chairman of the Highlanders Basketball Club from 1991 to 1994. From 1994 to 1995 Dube was the secretary for the Matabeleland Amateur Basketball Association.
He served as Bosso secretary for two years in 1996 to 1998 and was voted in as vice-chairman in 2005 to 2009 under Maphepha’s leadership, where they won one league title in 2006 with Methembe Ndlovu as head coach.
From 2009, Dube was in the Highlanders board of directors but resigned in 2010 only to be co-opted back into the board last year.
He holds a Masters in Business Administration (executive) with the National University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Sierra Leone, among other qualifications.
