Former Warriors coach Baltermar Brito says Yadah Stars Football Club owner, Walter Magaya, is the right man to be the next ZIFA president.
In 2023, Brito was the Highlanders coach when ZIFA appointed him as Warriors head coach, tasking him with leading the national team’s opening 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria, both of which ended in draws.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Brito said Magaya is the right man to spearhead the development of football in Zimbabwe as the president of ZIFA. He wrote:
I’m doing this post because my feeling and nature is more stronger than anything else. I look to Zimbabwe as one of the countries with more football talent that I worked with during my career as a football coach, was one of the best surprises during my lifetime even because of how good I felt there.
As my second home country, I follow all news and movements related, since long time that I look for Prophet Magaya as one of the great minds and visionaries on Zimbabwe and because of it see him related with a position of ZIFA boss gives me hope that finally the football there can win another dimension. Let’s have a hope that ZIFA after the elections are in good hands.
Brito has worked in different countries and for top European clubs, including Porto and Chelsea where he was Jose Mourinho’s assistant.
Former Highlanders and Warriors goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini recently called on Magaya to avail himself for the ZIFA president post, saying “his love for the game is there for everyone to see with all the million-dollar investments he has made”.
Magaya has yet to publicly declare himself available for the ZIFA presidency, but it is thought that given his passion for soccer (he built a stadium in Waterfalls, Harare), the preacher is open to running for the post when the elections are eventually held.
Simba Bhora FC director Brighton “PanJap” Ushendibaba, former Premier Soccer League boss Twine Phiri, CAPS United legend Alois Bunjira, veteran broadcaster Charles Mabika and UK-based Marshal Gore are all rumoured to be eyeing the ZIFA president post when it becomes available.
It’s still not clear whether elections for the new ZIFA board will held this year, but the Normalisation Committee’s tenure ends on June 30, 2024.
More: Pindula News