YADAH Football Club owner and The Heart Women Soccer League sponsor Walter Magaya is caught between a rock and a hard place as to whether to throw his name in the race for Zifa presidency or not.
A serial local sponsor benefactor, the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader's history of contributing to the well-being of sport in the country is well-documented.
From establishing his premiership side, Yadah is attracting huge name signings such as Warriors talisman Khama Billiat and Evans Rusike, among a galaxy of other stars. The man of the cloth has had his heart centred on enabling various sports disciplines in Zimbabwe.
Yet, all this he was doing out of the kindness of his heart. On Saturday evening, Magaya, who has great respect for former Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare, paid homage to his senior statesman, chronicling how instrumental the former was in his life as he learned the ropes of city life at the young age of 16. Magaya made a guest appearance at Mpandare's firstborn daughter Stephanie's 24th Birthday and Graduation ceremony. He gifted Stephanie with R50 000 as a double event present.
“I was a sports administrator at Gunners Football Club in 2006. Giving to the sports has been my culture...US$320 000 may be the smallest amount I have sponsored to the sports. I started sponsoring sport in 2012 and if you calculate the money that I have sponsored, I have surpassed way above US$10 million towards what I have given to sports,” said Magaya at a recent media engagement.
“At one point, I remember giving the men's national team money that is way above the COSAFA prize money. So we can't describe this giving as associated with the ZIFA presidency, which is happening once in five years whilst I have been giving every year.
“Constructing The Heart Stadium, I started doing it way before the ZIFA presidency was even in the limelight. I have constructed a stadium in Malawi but I am not campaigning in Malawi.
“I am building a stadium in Namibia; what do I benefit from, except following my passion and wanting to help youngsters to be in sport? I have constructed a stadium in Mozambique, but I am not part of their election; I am not from Mozambique, but I am from Zimbabwe."
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Following the recent successful hosting of the inaugural Heart Women Soccer League Tournament at Magaya's Heart Stadium, emissaries have emerged pleading with him to consider taking Zimbabwe football to the promised land.
“Giving to sport is only part of how I am moulded and how I want to see youngsters performing at the highest level. I have given to rugby, I have sent 37 athletes to Algeria and they came back with 18 medals. It is different from Soccer,” added Magaya.
“I own The Heart Women's Netball league in Chitungwiza and I sponsor all the 16 teams in that league. It has nothing to do with soccer and ZIFA positions. We can't then take the minor and try to magnify it.
“If I am going to be part of it, it is because the Lord has allowed it or there is a proper request that has come from people to partake in such. Sponsoring sport has been my culture and I have done it for many years.”
Cries are growing louder for Magaya to consider standing for the ZIFA's highest office. He has given it till mid-October to give his mind whether to consider vying for the post or not.
