Morrison Sifelani
| Morrison Sifelani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Morrison Sifelani 1935 Ntabazinduna, Zimbabwe |
| Died | Daylesford |
| Cause of death | Diarrhoea |
| Burial place | Ntabazinduna |
| Education | Dadaya High School, Zvishavane |
| Known for | One of the Founding fathers of Dynamos Football Club |
| Notable work | Founding Chairman of the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Tshuma |
| Children | Ellen, Maxwell, Mandla, Elliot, Sithabile, Elizabeth, Kelvin, Victor, Sakhile, Gugulethu and Kyle |
Morrison Sifelani was a Zimbabwean former football administrator and one of the founding members of Dynamos Football Club. He is one of the people who led top local clubs to break away from the then Super League in 1993 to form together the National Premier Soccer League which was later renamed the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
Background
Sifelani was born in Ntabazinduna in 1935 and did his education at Dadaya High School in Zvishavane. He was married to Margaret Tshuma and the couple had 11 children - Ellen, Maxwell, Mandla, Elliot, Sithabile, Elizabeth, Kelvin, Victor, Sakhile, Gugulethu and Kyle. He was the Premier Soccer League (PSL) founder and former Dynamos chairman.[1]
Career
Football Administration
He was a shrewd and intelligent business and former football executive, Sifelani left a legacy of a tenacious fighter, especially when it came to issues concerning his beloved team Dynamos. In 1993, together with other renowned administrators who include Chris Sibanda, they led top local clubs to break away from the then Super League to form together the National Premier Soccer League which was later renamed the Premier Soccer League. He also led Dynamos to some of the recognised successes in 1998 in the CAF Champions League, as chairman where the club lost to ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire in the final.[2] He single-handedly brought Chiredzi onto the football scene when he worked in that town a long time ago. He got involved with club football at Hippo Valley and Ziscosteel before going to the UK in 1975 for his Football Association coaching badge.
Business Administration
Apart from being a football administrator, Sifelani also worked for Ziscosteel and ZimTrade where he was the chief executive officer. He used to work for the then Ministry of Industry and Labour in the 1960s.[3]
His Words
Speaking to Realsoccer about the current football administrators, Sifelani had this to say: "I cannot go back to soccer right now because all the hands that are currently running it are bloodied. They are all like Lucifer in the Bible — busy trying to selfishly make money for themselves and not worrying about the game, which we all love in Zimbabwe."
“The only person that I admired or that I admire in local football is the (late) great John Madzima. Madzima was a man of principle and courage. While people do not appreciate it, he did a lot for our football. History will judge us and please write that John Madzima was and will forever be the best man that ran football in dear Zimbabwe.”
Talking to the Zimbabwe Independent about the Dynamos ownership wrangle in 2006, Sifelani blasted politicians from Zanu PF who had their hands in the club coffers.
He said: “It’s criminal, diabolical and satanic that some politicians and illegitimate people with no links to the club just take over what we have sweated for, and we make no apologies for defending the institution of Dynamos.”
Death
Sifelani died at his plot outside Gweru in 2010 after complaining of stomach cramps. At the time of his death, Sifelani was an active member of the Gweru Agenda. He also spent much of his life in business and farming.
