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Zifa hopes for Fifa funding

Sport
Fifa Southern Region development officer Ashford Mamelodi and Zifa will discuss the funding of the third phase of the Goal Project when the Botswana-based administrator arrives in the country today. Mamelodi will be officially hand over over Zifa Village by the contractors to pave way for the next phase of the project. Stalled for almost […]

Fifa Southern Region development officer Ashford Mamelodi and Zifa will discuss the funding of the third phase of the Goal Project when the Botswana-based administrator arrives in the country today.

Mamelodi will be officially hand over over Zifa Village by the contractors to pave way for the next phase of the project.

Stalled for almost a decade by successive Zifa administrations, the village, in Mt Hampden, has taken shape since the coming-in of Cuthbert Dube and his board in 2010.

Construction speed has increased since Fifa president Sepp Blatter’s visit on July 4 last year and with changes in methods of payments to the contractors, who are now being paid direct by the world football governing body.

Zifa communications manager Nicky Dhlamini confirmed Mamelodi’s arrival.

“He is here for the official handover by the constructors of Zifa Village which will be done on Thursday 26 January 2012 (tomorrow). There will also be discussions on preparations for Goal Project Phase III,” she said.

Mamelodi was last in the country in December where he expressed optimism on the progress made at the village.

“I’m very happy with the work that has been done so far. The place is now beginning to look like what we have always wanted it to be, so we now have to start thinking about the second phase.It is only after the second phase that we will begin to see the real Zifa Village that it ought to be and what we had planned.

“There were other defects that had to be rectified, like the electrical connections, but they have all been rectified and it looks like the contractors will be able to meet their deadline for this particular phase which has been set for January 15.

“This is just one of the many phases that we will support so that Zifa Village becomes a real training point for the various national teams and other technical activities. The next phase will require about half a million dollars and the decision will only be made in March when the Goal Bureau meets. Provided we are ready with our documentation, we will go to that meeting for what we call Goal Three in Zimbabwe,” said Mamelodi last month.

It is against the impressive progress that Fifa last year waived some of their stringent regulations to approve the release of an additional $150 000 to Zifa, which assisted the association to complete the much-awaited second phase of their project.

The $150 000 is over and above the $400 000 which Fifa had last year approved for the same project that includes completing major refurbishment work at the Zifa Village and building of a new structure.

The Zifa Village, which is situated on the outskirts of the capital, was bought by Zifa in April 2000 after Fifa had granted permission for the project, meant to improve the game in developing countries.