ZIFA PRESIDENT TALKS RENEWAL: OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE

Harare – In a speech marked by rare candour and conviction, ZIFA President Mr. Nqobile Magwizi confronted the storm clouds surrounding Zimbabwean football, acknowledging the nation’s frustrations while charting a course for renewal. He admitted the pain of recent failures, conceding that the results of the Warriors have fallen short of the expectations of millions. Yet even in that moment of reckoning, he insisted that Zimbabwean football’s future could still be rescued through courage, reform, and unity.

“Recent results have not met the expectations of our nation, and we share in the pain and frustration of millions of Zimbabweans,” Magwizi declared before journalists, officials, and supporters. “Football in our country is more than a sport, it is a bond that unites us and a symbol of who we are.”

Unlike the defensive tones often heard from football leadership in the past, his address struck a different note. There was little attempt to paper over the cracks, instead, there was an open acceptance of responsibility and a resolve to prove that the Football Association can still deliver. Since assuming office, Magwizi said, his Executive has been laying the foundations of renewal, restoring broken trust through partnerships with COSAFA, CAF, and FIFA, bringing in governance reforms, and regaining hosting rights once lost to Zimbabwe. He pointed to refereeing as one of the success stories, reminding the nation that Zimbabwe became the first SADC country to use VAR successfully in a U17 tournament and has produced ten referees certified to officiate at the highest international level.

That growing trust, he revealed, is now opening new doors. Zimbabwe might actually host another CAF tournament before the year ends, a development that would not only mark a major plus for the nation’s football but also stand as a powerful vote of confidence in ZIFA’s leadership under Magwizi. At a time when the country is desperate for recognition on the continental stage, the possibility of hosting again reflects restored credibility and renewed faith in Zimbabwe’s ability to deliver.

The President also spoke of youth football as the heartbeat of the future. After years of neglect, U15 and U17 structures are being revived even through NAPH and NASH, reconnecting schools with the national game and creating new pathways for tomorrow’s Warriors. Beyond that, he stressed that ZIFA is building clearer technical systems, expanding scouting networks, and widening the search for talent to include both home-grown players and those in the diaspora.

And then came the biggest announcement of the day, the fortification of the Warriors’ technical bench with what many have already called a dream reinforcement. Kaitano Tembo, the revered Zimbabwean legend, was unveiled to the media as an assistant coach to Michael Nees, alongside Takesure Chiragwi. Tembo’s legacy stretches from his commanding days at Dynamos and the Warriors to a decorated coaching career in South Africa with Supersport United and Sekhukhune United. His return to the fold was greeted with genuine anticipation, a reminder that proven leadership and discipline can still be summoned in service of the national cause.

But Magwizi did not stop there. He also introduced Sharif Mussa, a man whose reputation in team management and technical coordination is as deep as it is respected. Mussa, with years of experience in shaping and supporting national teams, comes in as a vital stabiliser, tasked with ensuring that structures around the Warriors are professional, efficient, and geared towards high performance. Together, Tembo and Mussa represent a formidable blend of technical expertise and institutional memory, a duo seen by many as the backbone of a new era, charged with driving the Warriors’ revival as the AFCON finals approach.

Yet Magwizi was careful not to suggest that these moves were enough. He admitted the urgency of the moment, pledging decisive steps to strengthen the Warriors further in order to salvage the remaining qualifiers and present a competitive side on the continental stage. For supporters who have grown weary of administrative progress that does not translate into victories on the pitch, this promise was perhaps the most critical part of his message.

The most emotional moment came when Magwizi turned to address the fans directly. “To our fans, we say: your passion is not taken for granted. We hear you. We respect you. We ask you to stand with us and with the Warriors. Division will not take us forward, unity, patience, and collective effort will.” It was an appeal not only for patience but for belief in a national cause bigger than any single leader or match.

Magwizi’s speech closed with a defiant declaration that Zimbabwean football would not remain in the shadows forever. “Zimbabwean football has risen before, and it will rise again. With unity, discipline, and belief, we shall restore the pride of our game.” His words carried echoes of past moments when football provided joy and unity amid wider national struggle. The question, however, remains whether this administration can translate rhetoric into reality. For Zimbabwean fans, whose passion burns even through years of disappointment, the hunger is not for speeches but for victories that restore dignity to the badge.

The ZIFA President has spoken. The promises are bold, the intent is clear. What remains is the hardest part: delivering on the field of play, where pride is either confirmed or shattered. For now, the nation waits, restless but still yearning, clinging to the belief that one day soon the Warriors will once again rise to carry the hopes of their people.

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