HARARE - Many claim that leadership by example is the best way to lead.
We've all heard that people pay more attention to leaders’ deeds than their words. I completely agree.
To be remarkable leaders then, we must make choices that set the right examples - to lead in directions we want people to follow.
In Zimbabwe, we have a slight challenge of leadership. We have leaders with no absolute standards or controls, and no fixed and firm reference points.
Adversely, we have leaders who seem not to get a sense of shame, or abandonment of duty, whenever they fall short of expectation and mandate.
Our sport, for the most part, is a vulnerable victim of that leadership scourge we have in this country.
Examples are awash. Look no further than Twine Phiri, the chairman of Zimbabwe’s Premier Soccer League, whose own team, CAPS United, has once again been rocked by a player revolt over outstanding dues, which almost embarrassingly caused the abandonment of their league tie with Bantu Rovers yesterday.
How a big and potentially profitable football club like CAPS continue to plunge into turmoil under the watch of the man who is supposed to drive our top-flight league into a huge money-spinning entity is cause for great concern.
How does the welfare of players at the rest of the PSL clubs become worthy of high priority if the league boss’s own club neglects its own players at such an alarming rate? What example is being set here?
Is CAPS United Football Club and the Premier Soccer League in good hands under such leadership?
Even if it has become visibly clear that the load is too heavy for him, Twine will of course not accept failure because it is not culturally acceptable in this part of the world to do so.
But I would like to hear one thing from Twine Phiri in the next few days. What really is the problem with CAPS United?
How does a club of CAPS United’s wonderful potential and rich tradition be so poor as to fail players their dues?
If he fails to answer convincingly, Twine should seriously consider resigning gracefully and let those capable of running the football club do so.
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