By Goodwill Zunidza
At a time unity of purpose had become a rare commodity in Zimbabwe, football fans appear to have picked a lesson they could teach the rest of the nation.
Feuding fan groups from the Friends of the Warriors (FOW) and the two Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association (ZNSSA) factions met extraordinarily in the capital last week and agreed to bury the hatchet.
In an unimaginable step, FOW, ZNSSA and ZNSSA-Terrace Warriors dissolved their rival unions to fall under the united banner of the Zimbabwe Soccer Supporters Association (ZSSA).
Bickering among the trio had taken its toll as the factions aligned with competing interests off the field of play, further spreading the divisions rocking Zimbabwe football.
The original association ZNSSA, founded by the two late Coleman Majaya and Eddie ‘Mboma’ Nyatanga in 1997, played a pivotal role in mobilising support for national teams in home and away games and also controlling the conduct of different team fans at local league games, succeeding in eliminating violence particularly in matches staged in Harare stadia.
But the death of Mboma in July last year triggered a vicious power struggle within the association and left it splintered and catering to the whims of a variety of self-actors seeking to manipulate the group’s influence for their own ends.
The late Mboma’s polarising leadership style had also alienated another section of the group which broke away in 2010 to form the FOW. But Friday March 14, saw the warring parties coming together ‘for the good of the game’, according to Emson Mandizvidza, who emerged from the meeting with the post of ZSSA spokesman.
Although Mandizvidza declined to name the new group’s leadership structure, pleading for more time to consult the ‘membership’ for approval, New Ziana has it on record that an enlarged 22-man executive committee was put in place to nurture the newly-born.
Todd Dzvangajuru will preside over the affairs of ZSSA, while Matthias Kufandirimbwa, who led ZNSSA-Terrace Warriors, was tagged for the secretary-general position.
Joseph ‘Motorcade’ Mutawu, the former ZNSSA secretary-general and later acting president, was entrusted with the purse as honorary treasurer, while FOW boss Tendai ‘T-Buns’ Zhakata returns to his original duties of chief of protocol.
Popular Dynamos backer Adomsi Mukwasi, who had resisted factionalism, retained his long-held post of First Vice-President, now flanked by two other office-holders.
Besides other nominees on the national executive, 10 provincial chairpersons will also be added on the committee.
Mandizvidza, the spokesman indicated that ZSSA seeks to carry out its business by the book. “It’s true that there was an adhoc meeting following several other meetings where supporters have been trying to come up with a single association,” he began.
“We resolved to work together with focus on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Nigeria as we are sending supporters to those games.”
The ZSSA spokesman continued: “But as a member-driven association we have to consult our members. No one is bigger than members. So we have not finalised on the issues.
We only came up with a proposal for the committee but we are not dictators, we have to hear from the membership if they agree to the envisaged union and the proposed leadership before ratification.
” Providing an insight on the way deliberations of the day went, Mandizvidza concurred that differences remain evident in the body of supporters but called them surmountable. ”
As soccer supporters we are united by our passion for football and our support for national teams hence we have very minor differences in terms of people who are probably hungry for positions but we think we can overcome that.
It is good for our membership, good for Zifa and good for our football.” Several of the nominated leaders have since confirmed the development in separate interviews.
Dzvangajuru, who is coming in from the cold and was perceived as a neutralising force, acknowledged his acceptance of the top post.
“I’m the President of ZSSA. It’s work in progress as we merge of FOW, ZNSSA and ZNSSA-Terrace Warriors. As soon as we finish the structuring exercise we will issue a press statement,” Dzvangajuru posited.
Mutawu, Mukwasi, Kufandirimbwa and Zhakata conveyed a similar tone when spoken to, with Mutawu intimating that the launch meeting would happen soon.
“It was agreed that Mandizvidza be our sole spokesman. We shall have an official position after the Durban game.” The Warriors take on Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium today, before travelling to face Nigeria in Uyo on Tuesday next week
New Ziana
