The Sunday News
FORMER Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari says he has not given up on his quest for a role in the administration of football at a higher level following an unexpected decision not to run for office in any capacity at the forthcoming Zifa elections scheduled for next month.
Mwaruwari had last week expressed his availability to play a role in the revival of the country’s most popular sport when he collected nomination forms from the Zifa offices, but failed to submit them. His declaration had sparked interest within the football fraternity with most expressing support for his candidature.
The 38-year-old former Manchester City forward’s bid for the Zifa presidency had hit a brick wall due to the 40-year age restriction as stipulated in the Zifa constitution.
In an interview on Friday following the close of nominations the previous day, Mwaruwari said after making consultations he decided against running for any post adding “two years is not a long time”, an indication he intends taking part in the next Zifa board elections in 2018.
“Yes, I wanted to get in but I made consultations with a number of people in the football world and after making certain considerations I decided against contesting but that does not mean I’m out forever. Two years is not a long time and I believe I can take the time to come up with more concrete plans to advance local football,” he said.
Mwaruwari reiterated that he was against people coming to “gatecrash” football administration adding only those with a traceable track record in the game should be tasked with leading Zifa.
The former AJ Auxerre striker last week told Sunday News Sport he was worried by the state of football in the country and was interested in lending a hand to uplift the local game.
“I am available to assist in improving local soccer and I believe I can do that in different positions. I feel it is time that football people take over the reins of the game because time and again we have let other people in but the only reward the game has got is plummeting standards. I am ready to use my contacts all over the world to make a difference in the local game.
“We want football to be the winner at the end of the day so I believe the onus is on people who have roots in the game to challenge for these positions and run football in the interest of the players, coaches, administrators and most of all the fans. We should not just let any person come in when we know he has little interest in the game,” he said then.
