HARARE – Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba has expressed his frustration at Zimbabwe’s ejection from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers through administrative shortcomings.
The southern African nation was barred from international competitions following suspension by the world’s football governing body, FIFA, owing to government interference in the operations of Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
The suspension means Zimbabwe is also locked out of all national FIFA supported personnel development activities for administrators, coaches and referees.
And watching on as many of his English Premier League opponents strut it out for the countries, Nakamba admitted “it’s disappointing but I think there are people who can answer you better on that one.”
“It’s a question you should direct to people who are on that job. I think it’s disappointing for me and also for you and for everyone but I don’t want to be in between and answering questions that (may get me into trouble),” he said.
The Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) were deemed by FIFA to have interfered in the operations of ZIFA after they used the force of law to suspend the Felton Kamambo led ZIFA board.
The SRC accused the ZIFA board of misappropriating money given to the association by the state for Zimbabwe’s participation at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The ZIFA board was also accused of mismanagement and lack of accountability in the use of public funds, as well as allegations of sexual harassment of female referees.
Curiously, eight months since that suspension, no ZIFA official has been arrested for charges relating to those allegations.
The SRC has since reinstated a new ZIFA board without board members Felton Kamambo, Philemon Machana and Brighton Malandule whose mandates were revoked during ZIFA’s extraordinary congress in April.
Farai Jere, Barbra Chikosi and Sugar Chagonda were spared the cull while Zifa vice-president Gift Banda was appointed the acting president of the country’s football governing body.
FIFA has previously insisted that they would only lift the country’s suspension upon the reinstatement of all the suspended ZIFA officials.
Meanwhile, Nakamba is set to launch his Marvelous Nakamba Foundation this week which he hopes can add to already existing conveyer belts in football grassroots structure development in Zimbabwe.
“I am looking forward to giving back to my community and if we can have more people taking up this initiative we can help youngsters reach their dreams,” he said.
Turning to Aston Villa, where he has struck a cordial relationship with manager Steven Gerrard, Nakamba said the only way he can repay the faith shown in him by the Liverpool legend is not by shaking his hand but by performing on the pitch.
“Very pleased with the chances that I have had and looking forward to keep improving and working hard to repay the faith shown in my by the technical team,” he said.
Nakamba was speaking to journalists on the side-lines of a UNICEF press conference which was held in Harare on Tuesday ahead of the Day of the African Child. The Day of the African Child will be held on June 16.
UNICEF and partners, including football star Nakamba, singer Selmor Mtukudzi and UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador, rugby star Tendai (the Beast) Mtawarira, made a pledge to promote the role of women in society and to end child marriage.
The pledge calls on everyone to become a role model in her or his own community for the empowerment of women and against child marriage.
Child marriage remains widespread in Zimbabwe. One woman out of three was married before the age of 18.
To end child marriage the perception of the role of women in society needs to change, UNICEF said in a statement, adding girls need to be given the opportunity to develop their full potential as equal members of society.
