NIGEL ANDREW MASIMBA MUNYATI
CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT: ZIMBABWE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Football is a Life I Live and Love!
I am a full-time football administrator with a lifetime of passionate experience and expertise.
I am running for the post of ZIFA Executive Committee President; and promise bring to Zimbabwe Football a passionate combination of skill, experience, dedication, and professionalism. Sport is a fundamental ingredient to a nation’s health, as it can help instil a sense of national pride and galvanise it in times of difficulty. Zimbabwe needs football.
Our nation has endured a very challenging decade-and-a-half of political discord and economic strife that have left us with a low sense of personal and national esteem. I promise to play my part in redeeming the national soul through football, by implementing the following:
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
1. BOARD EFFECTIVENESS
The outgoing ZIFA Board has been a failure. While in our individual capacities we may have performed to differing levels of effectiveness, the net result is that we have failed the nation and our beautiful game. The main reason for this failure has been poor leadership.
Our Board failed to focus on instituting a strategic approach to managing the glaring needs and requisite and key success factors such as cleansing the Associations image, financial rescue and prudent financial management, professionalization of the Secretariat, implementation of a Junior Football Development programme, and securing a technical partnership for the national team kit and equipment. Instead we wasted precious time on pursuing issues of peripheral importance, such as cleansing the Secretariat of the old staff, and suspending Board Members considered disruptive to some individuals’ private agendas.
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Our Board was fraught with a cancer characterised by indecisiveness, acrimonious infighting, and blindness, which cost the association dearly. Some of the values I will institute include: Strategic Thinking and Action, Decisiveness, Consistency, Honesty, and Fairness.
2. PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
The Secretariat has perennially underperformed, and this has severely compromised the Association’s ability to deliver on its mandate. Creating an effective organisational structure and employing a team of competent staff supported by a firm but fair implementation of effective policies and procedures will be a top priority. Professionalization will also include:
i. Strategic Management Since 2010, the current Board has flirted with the idea of a strategic plan but failed to create one. There is a management maxim that says: “If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Nothing could describe our board’s performance better.
Because we lacked strategic vision, we ended up pursuing activities with limited effect on the Association’s performance, at the expense of those that would have.
I will ensure that ZIFA embarks on a strategic planning exercise as soon as the new Board settles, and funding is secured. The process will not only be limited to the Board and Secretariat, but will include all levels. Each Affiliate will be required to participate in the process, and also create its own plans.
ii. Staff Contracts: All ZIFA employees will be placed on annual contracts to ensure that numbers are commensurate with Association funding, and that retention is based on performance.
iii. Decentralisation: To ensure that administrative support is more effective, I will encourage the Board/Council to introduce a structure that has two conferences; the Northern (Harare-based) & Southern (Byo-based) Conferences, each with a General Manager.
iv. Engagement of Technical Partner/Kit Supplier Despite the Puma deal receiving FIFA support, the last Board refused to sign the contract, denying the Association an opportunity to earn a minimum of 3
MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
$500,000/year in replica sales. I will make the engagement of a Technical Partner/Kit Supplier to dress and equip all national teams one of the first actions of the new Board.
v. Elimination of the Culture of Patronage Paid patronage is a cancer that is killing our beautiful game! This disease has undoubtedly compromised corporate governance, and caused football administrators around the country to lose sight of their obligations to developing Zimbabwe football, and tarnished the Association’s image. In my conversations with government officials, corporate leaders, or ordinary football enthusiasts around the country, the one comment they all make is “how will you compete against all the money that some candidates have splashed around the country?”
My answer to them is: “I am confident that those who are visionary and truly love Zimbabwe football will choose ethics over money”. For how can you
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
prosecute an 18 year-old young man for accepting $500 to influence the outcome of a match when you are receiving money to influence the outcome of an election? If we cannot see that the two are one-and-the same, then our football is doomed!
3. ELIMINATING THE DEBT ALBATROSS: Effective Financial Engineering
ZIFA is virtually technically insolvent. The Association is carrying a debt of over $5 million that the current Board has failed to retire. This is because the Board never really gave time to tackling this issue. My Board will make the elimination of this indebtedness a top priority. One of the key strategies will be to break down the debt into its constituent parts, and tackle each part accordingly because each needs a unique solution (i.e. Kentaro, Coach, Vendors, Justice Ebrahim Ethics Committee, etc.).
4. THE PSL: Supportive Engagement
All over the world, the core of Association football is the league (EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, etc.). A strong League creates a will generate meaningful employment and income for thousands of Zimbabweans. So the Association must support the golden goose much more than it has done in the past. My Executive will do the following to support the PSL:
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
a. League Sponsorship Together with the PSL Chairman I will lobby for wider and increased sponsorship of the League and competitions, including the FA Cup.
b. Reduction/Removal of Levies Many clubs are facing severe financial constraints, and need to hold on to every cent they generate. I will motivate the Board to eliminate the 6% levy on gate- takings, and convince the SRC and government to reduce their levies.
c. Eliminate International Transfer Levy According to FIFA Player Transfer Regulations Article 9.1: “Players registered at one association may only be registered at a new association once the latter has received an International Transfer Certificate (hereinafter: ITC) from the former association. The ITC shall be issued free of charge without any conditions or time limit. Any provisions to the contrary shall be null and void.” Whereas the Nyatanga-led Executive instituted a $1,000 administration fee, which would be fair, the 15% fee levied by the current Board is unrealistically excessive.
d. ZIFA Participation in Broadcast Rights In doing the above, ZIFA will be giving up sources of income a situation that would be detrimental to an already financially distraught organisation. So ZIFA will participate in the SuperSport PSL broadcast rights and earn a set percentage.
e. Terrestrial Broadcast of PSL matches The SuperSport Broadcast in 2013 was an excellent boost for the League. However it will enjoy greater success if the partnership is extended to ZBC. Parties will also benefit from advertising revenue generated.
f. Health/Life Insurance Schemes Many illustrious players have died paupers, a sad situation that testifies to the Zimbabwe football’s failure.
5. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: The ZIFA Corporate Partner Program
ZIFA will design tiered corporate partner programmes, creating exclusive categories (Bank/Financial Service, Food & Drink, Mobile Telephone and Internet Service Providers, Vehicle Dealerships, Mining, Apparel, etc.). ZIFA will work closely with each sponsor to ensure maximum yield from their sponsorship/advertising expenditure, to ensure mutually beneficial partnerships.
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Part of this relationship will include corporate hospitality opportunities such as Premium Seating and Corporate Boxes.
a. Stadium Marketing Zimbabwe’s stadiums belong to the last millennium, and are in urgent need of a ‘Facilities Upgrade’. ZIFA will engage both national and local government for a coordinated solution that would also include extending Naming Rights, such that corporates can brand them accordingly (e.g. FNB Stadium in SA, Emirates Stadium in UK, Gillette Stadium in USA, etc.). The local authorities will earn much needed revenue and eliminate, while ZIFA receives commission from the transactions.
6. RETURN OF THE FA CUP: Back to the Future Many Zimbabweans have memories of times gone by when minnows from the lower Divisions defeated a big name team. I will work to find sponsorship for this wonderful extension of league football.
7. ZIMBABWEANS IN THE DIASPORA: Reaching Out It is estimated that at least three million Zimbabweans live in the Diaspora. ZIFA will tap into this huge resource for talent, marketing, and financial support. My executive will establish chapters in South Africa, UK, and US.
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
8. JUNIOR FOOTBALL: A Meaningful Re-Start
Despite well-sounding promises in 2010, our Board has failed dismally to establish a meaningful Junior Football Development programme. The FIFA Financial Assistance Programme funds have been diverted to other non-development uses. Selection of talent for the U15, U17, U20, and U23 has been haphazard, and participation in regional competitions disastrous.
My executive will prioritise Junior Football by: a. Introducing a department in the Secretariat run by a Manager and a team of Regional/Provincial Coordinators.
b. Make effective use of the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) by ensuring that funds go directly to this department to support activities at the Area Zone, Province, and Region levels. According to FIFA: “The Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) is designed to motivate and empower the associations and confederations to organise development programmes that meet their needs and strengthen football and its administration in the long term.” c. ZIFA will further reinforce grassroots football by partnering with Local Government to promote the Area Zones’ Suburban and Rural Junior Football Leagues. These activities will lead to Provincial Junior Football Championships with winners progressing to Regional and eventually National Championships. It is from the Provincial Select teams that the National Teams will be drawn. d. ZIFA will develop and implement a National Junior Development Manual to ensure consistency in training programmes throughout the country. e. All coaches involved in Junior Development will be tested certified, and accredited to the programme. 8
MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
9. WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Back to Basics
After an exciting start in 2010, Women’s football took a nose dive and failed to run the league in 2012, and would probably have failed again in 2014. The new Chairperson has promised to reverse this trend, and my Executive will give her full support that will include promoting ‘girl football’ in the Junior Football League.
10. THE FOOTBALL SUPPORTER: Rediscovering Passion
For some time now, the Zimbabwean soccer supporter has been short-changed by poor administration at both the league and national team levels. I promise to turn this around by:
a. Enhancing the Game Day Experience It is critical that ZIFA and PSL collaborate to bring spectators back to the stadiums. However this will only be possible when we finally present to Zimbabwe, a family and particularly child and female friendly environment. This will require the creation of among other feature such as entertainment, Corporate Hospitality Programs to enhance the game day experience for fans, while creating unique opportunities for sponsors to reach the fans.
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
b. Rivalry Management Programme My Executive will collaborate with the PSL in developing a Rivalry Series (e.g. Dynamos vs. Highlanders), and a National Derby Day (Dynamos vs. CAPS, FC Platinum vs. Shabanie Mine, etc). If well-hyped and marketed, these events will create standalone products attractive to sponsors.
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
PROFILE
1. INTRODUCTION
F o o t b a l l i s a L i f e I L i v e a n d L o v e !
I am a full-time football administrator with a lifetime of passionate experience and expertise. Additionally, I am a strategic management, marketing, communications, and international development specialist with over 30 years’ of highly creative and dynamic management, marketing, communications, and development experience. I have worked in ten African countries, four Middle Eastern and Asian countries, five European countries, the USA and Latin America.
2. EXPERTISE
I have held the following Leadership positions:
Munyati Consulting: Managing Consultant ECI Conference Call Services (USA): Director of Marketing & Communications ITT Sheraton Hotels: Director of Marketing – Africa Dairibord: Regional Manager Harare/Chipinge
This experience has been complimentary to my successfully executing challenging tasks that include:
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Strategic market planning and communications programmes across a wide spectrum of Zimbabwe’s economic sectors such as the hospitality, dairy, and communications industries.
Creating an industry leading full-service marketing and communications company providing strategic marketing, Public Relations, event and meetings management, market research, and corporate video production services for clients in the private and public sectors, and international organizations;
Introducing the concept of corporate sponsorship for live Davis Cup Tennis to Zimbabwe on behalf of Tennis Zimbabwe on ZBC (six matches 1997-2000 (Ukraine, Austria, Italy, Australia, Chile, and USA);
Chairing the Media and Publicity Committee of the Southern Africa International Dialogue (SAID’99, Victoria Falls); and co-ordinating all communications including recording and simultaneous image projection of dialogue participants on four screens, and live national television broadcast.
Conducting Sales and Marketing training for over 200 hotel management personnel in Africa and Pakistan;
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Supervising the construction of Chipinge Dairy and Sterilised Milk; and the refurbishment, and installation of, UHT Milk and Ice Cream plants and Harare Dairy.
3. SPORT ADMINISTRATION
My sports administration experience began in 1986, when I stopped playing at Rio-Dairibord Football Club to become its Co-Chairman, a position I held until 1988.
In 1996 I was a Founding Trustee of the Fish Eagle Trust, an organisation (whose patron was the late President Canaan Banana) that was created to help raise funds for the National teams, which it did successfully.
Following the death of Edgar Ricardo Serafim, I was asked to take over as Black Aces Football Club Chairman in 1999, the season in which it won the BP Cup, with young talent such as Tinashe Nengomasha, Nqobizitha Ncube, and Patrick Daka.
I have also been involved in national sport institutions such as the Sports and Recreation Commission’s Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA) as an Organising Committee Member.
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
In 2000, Marc Duvillard and I established the Aces Youth Soccer Academy, which has grown to be the premier Soccer Academy in Zimbabwe, producing talent that includes Knowledge Musona, Daryl Nyandoro, and Khama Billiat (see attached schedule of AYSA graduates).
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
SELECT LIST OF AYSA GRADUATES
SURNAME FIRST NAME CLUB INTERNATIONAL 1 Musona Knowledge TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany)/Keizer Chiefs 2 Amidu Abbas Mpumalanga Black Leopards (South Africa) 3 Billiat Khama Ajax Cape Town (South Africa) 4 Zvasiya Lincoln Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) 5 Mapfumo Brain Township Rollers (Botswana) 6 Nyandoro Daryl TP Mazembe (DRC) ZIMBABWE PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE 1 Kaisa Luckson Black Mambas 2 Nyahunzvi Ben Black Mambas 3 Chimutimunzveve Honey Black Mambas 4 Chinungo Tendai Black Mambas 5 Maglas Benson Caps United 6 Dhuwa Collins Caps United 7 Gonzo Terrence Caps United 8 Chigova George Dynamos 9 Songani Silas Harare City 10 Sadiki Takunda Highlanders 11 Silinda Emmanuel How Mine 12 Chipeta Eric Hwange 13 Meson Nelson Monomotapa United 14 Masumbiko Hamilton Monomotapa United 15 Rhappozzoh Elenmore Monomotapa United 16 Katsvairo Michelle Platinum ZIFA DIVISION ONE 1 Dongo Regis Blue Rangers 2 Madzivanzira Wattmore Dstv 3 Mukwezvaramba Norrest Gunners 4 Moya Divine Powermaster 5 Chayambuka Brighton Twalumba 6 Chinembeza Munashe Caps United AYSA GIRLS 1 Machingura Rufaro Black Rhinos 2 Bepete Violet Black Rhinos 3 Bobo Tsitsi Black Mambas 4 Chinguwo Onai Mufakose Queens 5 Chibanda Eunice Mufakose Queens 6 Nyaumwe Merjury Flame Lily 7 Mlilo Emma Rhinos Queens 8 Daisy Kaitano Rhinos Queens 15
MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
4. FOOTBALL PLAYING EXPERIENCE
I have played “the beautiful game” virtually all my life. In addition to the formative experiences playing in primary and secondary school, I also played club junior football at Chipembere Primary School, Old Highfield Youth Club (‘Machembere’) and Old Highfield BSAP Camp, and Mazowe Secondary School.
I am a proud winner of the Salisbury Junior Football League in 1974 with Machembere.
As an adult, I played college football at the Pennsylvania State University, the team that placed Third in the 1980 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).
I played for Black Aces F.C. in 1981/82 and Rio-Dairibord Football Club in 1985/86.
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
5. PROFESSIONAL CORPORATE EXPERIENCE
Perseid Communications, Inc., Tenafly, NJ, USA (Jan, 2003): Owner and President ECI Conference Call Services, Wayne NJ, USA (2001-2002): Director of Marketing & Communications (2001-2002) Munyati Consulting, Harare, Zimbabwe (1994-2000): Owner and Managing Consultant ITT-Sheraton Hotels, Brussels, Belgium: Area Director of Marketing, Africa (1993-1994) Dairy Marketing Board, Zimbabwe: Regional Manager (1983-1989) Conservation Corporation Zimbabwe (1994-2000) British Council Management Centre (1994-96)
6. CIVIC LEADERSHIP
Founding Trustee, Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust (1997).
Board Member Zimbabwe Football Association (2010-2014) Borrowdale School Parents Association (1990-1991)
Chairman Southern Africa International Dialogue (SAID’99): Media & Publicity Committee National Economic Consultative Forum: Media & Publicity Task Force (1999)
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MUNYATI: NIGEL, ANDREW, MASIMBA FOUNDER & DIRECTOR, ACES YOUTH SOCCER ACADEMY Mobile: +263 77 482-4183; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Student Representative
Leeds University: MBA Students Representative (1987-1988) Penn State Students Union Representative (1980-1981)
6. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
BSc - Food Science: Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA (1981)
MBA Leeds University, Leeds, UK (1988)
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