Emmanuel Chitsika
Following his recent appointment into the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) strategic planning committee, veteran Masvingo Zifa chairperson Nobioth Magwizi said he is happy to get recognition to rub shoulders with the elite as they try to turn around fortunes of the beleaguered association.
Speaking to TellZim News, the veteran sport administrator said the appointment would afford him the opportunity to work towards achievement of set goals by the association considering the poor state the beautiful game find itself in the country.
“I feel elated to be amongst the best football administrators in our country. The fact that I am the only one from our region (Eastern) selected shows I have something to offer towards development and resuscitation of the sport from grass roots level.
“I am happy to be recognized and selected into the strategic planning committee by the current ZIFA leadership. The initiative is the new road map that is going to be used by the association in the near future,” said Magwizi.
He said the region stands a better position to benefit from the planning by virtue of having representation in the committee.
“I foresee our region benefiting a lot from my representation in such an important committee. As you know, we no longer have proper junior football structures in our province, so we are going to push for restructuring through this committee.
“I would like to make sure youngsters from our region who are interested in pursuing careers in the beautiful game are able to do so by ensuring that all are put within the confinements of the road map.
“We have got very talented youngsters in our province but sponsorship is of great concern since most of the companies which used to sponsor our teams are now bankrupt,” added Magwizi.
A civil engineering technician by profession, Magwizi boasts of wealthy experience in football administration that dates back to 2006 when he was the chairperson of Gutu Leopards in division 2 before the team got promoted into the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in 2009 after changing franchise to FC Victoria in 2008.
From 2014 -15 he was vice chairperson ZIFA Masvingo province, while in 2018 he was elevated to chairperson a post he holds up to date where he also serves as a member of the competitions committee.
He also went on international football assignments like in 2018 to Angola as head of delegation for FC Platinum on their Confederation of African Football (CAF) champions league assignment and the following year he was in Egypt with the Warriors as a delegate at Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.