Fabian Mudhegu
Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
News Reporters
Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) leader Prophet Walter Magaya is touted to be eyeing the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) presidency if information obtained by this publication is true.
ZIFA will hold elections for its executive this year after the FIFA appointed normalization committee has completed its normalization work.
Our source stressed that Magaya has keen interests in assuming the ZIFA presidency as he has been heavily involved in the country’s football matters particularly the Warriors.
Warriors is the moniker for the Zimbabwe Men’s national football team.
If information obtained from our source is anything to believe the question which then emanates from this rumor mill is whether the man of God is the right candidate for the post?
Magaya’s past is shrouded in controversy as he was once accused of raping a youthful female congregant.
In 2019, one Charity Dlodlo dogged the limelight with rape allegations against the preacher. Dlodlo later apologized and withdraw the case.
Many a social media commentator posted that Dlodlo had been paid handsomely to withdraw the charges.
Recently, Magaya was entangled in a scandal from his Yadah Football Academy.
The preacher is accused of lying to the public that he was bringing scouts from Serie A’s Juventus this past August.
“We are bringing (scouts) from the Juventus Academy to Zimbabwe in August.” Magaya is quoted by Harare Live News.
Football blogger, Makomborero Mutimikula is the one who unraveled the scandal.
Mutimikula claimed that the scouting operation was a hoax by Magaya since the Juventus Academy Area Manager Marco Degortes refuted the claims by Magaya that Juventus was coming to Zimbabwe to scout for young players.
Many parents had been made to pay US$ 20 for their children to be considered for trials.
Away from controversy the PHD Ministries leader is said to be a sports lover with football as his envy. He wanted to be a football star.
Magaya’s involvement in Zimbabwean football is self evident. He has been in the thick of things in assisting or throwing away money for the sake of football.
In 2014 Magaya purchased Cuthbert Chitima’s football Club, the Gunners, which he later Christened Yadah FC. The prophet went on to invest massively in this project to ensure that Yadah joins the country’s elite football, the Castle Larger Premier League, from Zifa Division One Eastern Region League in just two years.
At the time Magaya was in the spotlight for the wrong reasons and many thought his Yadah project was a fluke. He proved them wrong.
The following year, 2015, the PHD Ministries leader donated R560 000 which was equivalent to US$54 000 at the time to support the Warriors in their quest for glory in the Confederation of Southern Africa Football Associations, Cosafa Cup. News headlines suggested that the funds were misappropriated by those who were in authority of ZIFA at the time.
Magaya’s generosity did not end there, he was to come to the assistance of the women national team, The Mighty Warriors, as he donated R28 000 (US$ 2 700) ahead of their Afcon qualifiers match against Ghana. Moving to 2017, Magaya accommodated the Warriors ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations, Afcon, qualifiers against Liberia in his Yadah Village. The men’s National team was provided with everything needed including training facilities, food and transport, all for free.
In the qualifiers the Warriors outshined the Liberians with a huge 3-0 win margin. The preacher thereafter appreciated every player’s efforts with a US$1 000 token for the win.
At the end of the same year, in a historical style, Prophet Walter Magaya invited the Barcelona legends who flew in from Spain to battle with Warriors Legends in a match that ended 2-2. Magaya sponsored the entirety of the match, from accommodation to transportation using his own money.
The testimonial match brought back fond memories as all football lovers had a chance to watch former great players like Benjan Mwaruwari, Joel Luphahla, Calisto Pasuwa, Kaitano Tembo and many others and the man himself, Prophet Walter Magaya was introduced to play in the last ten minutes of the game and he made some beautiful and entertaining moves.
In 2019 just before Covid-19 struck, the Mighty Warriors’ camp was boosted with US$ 462 800, food and accommodation for their Afcon quest in Djibouti against Somalia.
Magaya has been with Zimbabwean football in both good and bad times. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s football was suspended by the Federations of International Football, FIFA, due to government interference.
The Sports and Recreation Commission through the Ministry of Sport suspended Walter Wamambo led executive for maladministration and despite repeated warnings to reinstate the ZIFA executive by FIFA, the government was adamant and the country faced the ultimate punishment.
While the country’s football was confined inside the borders, Magaya still believed in the success of the lovely family game. He continued his investment on Yadah FC. The team has found its depth in the Premier Soccer League and it looks like they are here to stay.
In the meantime, the man of God, Magaya’s belief in Zimbabwean football is still high. He is currently working on his football Stadium he calls the Heart Stadium in Harare’s Waterfalls suburb. The first phase of the stadium which accommodates 5 000 spectators was launched on the 10th of December 2023 with a plan for further extensions to take place in future. Magaya said of the work in progress, the Heart Stadium is likely to host Warriors’ world cup qualifiers match against Lesotho in June.
Prophet Magaya still believes that Zimbabwe will play at a World Cup final at some point in future and he promises to continue supporting the team whenever he can.
“Zimbabwe will play at World Cup. It’s only a matter of time. As long I’m alive. I will continue supporting the team in anyway to make sure that this dream is fulfilled.
There is a lot of talent in this country, so why not qualify for World Cup? I will not cease to support the National team to achieve such a remarkable feat”, said Magaya after FIFA readmitted Zimbabwean football into the International fray.
Lee Mangena, a football analyst was asked to comment if Magaya was the right person to lead ZIFA and this is what he had to say,
“It would make sense in terms of the fact that he is not afraid to invest in football, but the big question is: Will he have the time?”
Mangena went on to say that, unlike the previous ZIFA presidents such as Philip Chiyangwa, Magaya is not afraid to use his money football wise. He has assisted in football matters without blinking an eye.
“Remember he is the one who sponsored the Legends testimonial Barcelona versus Zimbabwe Warriors game, a match he ended up playing in the last 10 minute.
“The facts are that he has a team playing in the PSL (Premier Soccer League) and there is also the female counterparts of Yadah, and there are chapters of Yadah across Zimbabwe”.
The football analyst said Magaya is experienced in football matters as he has been involved in the game for period extending to more than five years. He (Magaya) has build a state of the art football stadium.
“Yes, he is a good and suitable candidate for the ZIFA presidency but my reservations are that we may have an absentee leader since Magaya runs a church, he is a businessman and runs a football franchise. Will he have the time?” Mangena asked
Several Facebook users who follow football events around the world and the country also seem to back Magaya for the helm of ZIFA, below are some of their comments after the ZPSL Sports Online post on the ZIFA’s presidency elections.
Prosper Mbesa, “I think this guy can improve our football to international standards, look at how beautiful the heart stadium looks, its absolutely amazing, Now think if Rufaro stadium or the national sports stadium could look like that. This man has got vision. I like him.”
Michael Mickey Makumbe, “I feel he deserves the chance. He has been consistent in his desire to see our nation improving in terms of football. He has been there for the National Team before and these are people who should surely be involved jn the administration of our Soccer since he has a passion to see us improve as a nation. Papa has my vote.”
Sebastian Nakovere, “With the passion he has for the sport, I think he should be given a chance. Look at what he has achieved so far with the Yadah project and of late The Heart Stadium. He is a charismatic leader who can do wonders for our game. The game of football is now a shame because most of the guys that have been at the helm of Zifa lacked passion but were after the $ associated with the most beautiful game on earth.”
Some fans are also suggesting other names such as Twine Phiri whom they think is a strong candidate for the sit.
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