Born in 1935, in Ntabazinduna eManxeleni near Bulawayo and educated at nearby David Livingstone later Dadaya Mission in Zvishavane and Tegwane (Thekwane) in Plumtree.
Morrison Sifelani, was a football player in his own right, was a founder member of Dynamos Football Club in 1963 in Harare township (Mbare) together with Richard Chiminya, Obadiah Sarupinda, Jairosi Banda, Shacky Chitimbe, Freddy Mukwesha, Richard Chiminya, Josiah Akende, Patrick Amato Dzvene, Danny Bricks Thomas, Bernard Marriot Lusengo and Sam Dauya, writes John Masuku.
This was after the disbanding of two major football clubs Salisbury City and Salisbury United.
In 1993 Sifelani became founding chairman of National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), PSL with Chris Sibanda as secretary-general.
Sifelani once served as Chairman of Dynamos Football Club which over the years earned nicknames such as DeMbare, Glamour Boys,Team of 7 million (supporters), Hayinangozi and Team yaMdara.
Unpacking the jack of all trades:
1. A trained communication for development journalist at Thomson Foundation in Cardiff Wales, a widely read Sifelani once worked in Nairobi, Kenya and later for the Natural Resources Board (NRB) now Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in Harare as Public relations Officer.
He presented different conservation programmes like Hurukuro Nevematenganyika/Ezemthengazweni, EzemaNdebeleni among others on the former RBC African Service now Radio Zimbabwe at Mbare Studios.
He walked the talk by having a very beautiful garden at his New Canaan, Highfield,Harare house just like his neighbour Mr Enos Mbofana.
2. Worked at Hippo Valley Estates, getting involved in football, placing Hippo Valley Football Club on the map and later at Ziscosteel.
3. Sifelani is a former CEO of ZimTrade, Zimbabwe’s trade promotion body and past President of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI). He is sometimes credited for introducing the Hyundai cars from South Korea.
4. Married to Margaret Tshuma, his children are Ellen, Maxwell, Mandla, Elliot, Sithabile, Elizabeth, Kelvin (Soul Supreme), Victor, Sakhile, Gugulethu and Kyle.
5. 1975-Obtained his Football Association coaching badge in the United Kingdom.
6. Sifelani’s quotable quotes about good football administration.
“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.”-in Realtime magazine.
“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 ruling 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.”
In his speeches Sifelani also liked the expression “If you are not part of the solution then you are the problem”
11. On 10th December 2010 Morrison Longstaff Sifelani aged 75 died at his plot outside Gweru where he was an active member of the Gweru Agenda, businessman and farmer.
He was buried in his home area Ntabazinduna eManxeleni under Chief Khayisa Ndiweni.