By Edgar Muzvidzwa.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of the south) By successfully hosting a joint 58th birthday and COSAFA presidency winning bash which was attended by the presidents of football federations including the FIFA president and its secretary general, Philip Chiyangwa proved to be a chess master in business and politics. It is widely perceived that the event has been earmarked for garnering support for Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar who is challenging Issa Hayatou for President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This is not the first time that Chiyangwa has scored a first as his track record is filled with great milestones. Chiyangwa was the first president of the Affirmative Action Group in Zimbabwe and the only Zimbabwean to bring Michael Jackson in the country.
This entails that bravery with brains is a very important attribute for success in many areas in life. Issa Hayatou has been at the helm of CA) since 1988 and has made it his protected haven. There has not been a successful challenger to his presidency and he has not given indications that he wants to let go of his position. Many in the football industry are no longer happy with the elongated reign of the Cameroonian. However, it is easy to talk when you are an outsider as many who got to leadership positions forgot that they needed time out at one point. Some leave after a trigger of discontent from some circle yet some have to be fought before they concede to lose their grip.
AS the COSAFA president Chiyangwa feels that he has the right to support Ahmad Ahmad as Madagascar is a COSAFA member. He has come in the open that he is the campaign manager of the CAF president challenger. Judging from the number of the football luminaries who attended the event it can be an indicator of discontent about the long reign of Hayatou as CAF president.
It is high time leaders of organizations of all backgrounds understood the importance of grooming and supporting budding leaders as they lead. It is in family businesses where people can expect that the founder may find it difficult to trust anyone to be able to preserve his legacy that he will not be keen to give the baton to a successor. Organisations like CAF are there for the common good of everyone and chances should be given to many to take the organisation from one level to another. We saw it in FIFA that when Blatter stayed in power for a long time issues of corruption emerged. While Hayatou may have served the CAF well, it is only rational that at some point the baton should be released to another person.
Africa in particular has a history of community leadership through chiefdoms where particular families have the prerogative to rule. Be that as it may, the societies are evolving and through modernisation and education people now embrace change. People have shifted mindsets to positions where they expect change and want to see change. The world is moving very fast and environments are changing at alarming speeds. The rapid changes call for leaders who are alert and understand the importance of creating fluid organisations and increase fluidity in leadership growth and change.
Long live Africa and its football. Edgar Muzvidzwa can be contacted on edgarmuzvidzwa@gmail.com or onrockconsultants@gmail.com
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