ZIMBABWEAN clubs could face a ban from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) from next year’s Champions League and the Confederation Cup if they fail to implement the required club licencing measures.
REPORT BY WELLINGTON TONI
The Caf executive committee, which has been meeting in Cairo, Egypt, issued the directive on Monday which threatens the chances of Zimbabwean clubs, including perennial contenders Dynamos, in the Champions League.
Winners of the Mbada Diamonds Cup will also take part in the Confederation Cup, but would be barred from doing so if they do not meet the requirements.
“The Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive committee has tasked its affiliated national associations to ensure the mandatory implementation of the club licencing directive (including national club licencing regulations, decision-making bodies and statutory provisions) by the end of 2013. National associations that fail to meet the requirements could have their clubs banned from Caf club competitions for the year 2014”, the continental body said on Monday.
Premier Soccer League (PSL) chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said while they are the implementing body, compliance should be reached by January 2014. “We must at least try to meet the minimum requirements although this is done by Zifa,” Ndebele said yesterday.
“These should include a full office, access to the stadium they use and approval certificate, audited financial statements and a written-down youth development programme foar three teams.”
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Highlanders are the only club that has consistently produced audited accounts in line with their constitution.
Last week, the league held a workshop with How Mine where they are being assisted to set up proper structures.
Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said they would enforce the Caf orders.
“Deadline for the registration of teams for the club competitions is November 30, meaning the clubs have two months to speed up the process. The ball is in their court because this issue has been going on since 2010 and clubs did not take things seriously.
“Kenny (PSL chief executive) has been preaching the same gospel and we need to move with speed because we need to see the modernisation of the game in Zimbabwe,” Gwesela said yesterday.
In 2009, 16 PSL clubs met and made the Harare Declaration where a number of issues were supposed to have been implemented by the end of 2010, but up to now the majority of the key resolutions have not been attended to.
Fifa representatives Florie Ramogodi, Frederick Mngomezulu and Mathew Haikali conducted the course in Harare between November 30 and December 5 2009 under the Fifa Win In Africa With Africa club management course.
Some of the issues included a clear distinction between the role of a welfare manager and head coach — an alleged source of conflict at Highlanders this season between Kelvin Kaindu and Willard Khumalo.
Basic facilities like fully-furnished offices with at least basic communication facilities like telephone lines, faxes and email are missing from a number of clubs in the country, although according to Caf they are basic under the envisaged order.
According to Article 1.1 of the Club Licencing Regulations, the whole aim is meant to safeguard the credibility and integrity of club competitions and improve levels of professionalism within the football family.
It also seeks to promote sporting values in accordance with the principles of fair play as well as safe and secure match commitments.
The regulations are also meant to promote transparency in the finances of clubs, ownership and control.
Of late, there has been a tussle for the clear structures at Caps United between Twine Phiri and former club director Farai Jere, who still owns 25% of the team despite pulling out as club director. Caps though are the only club in the country with a chief executive officer, while Highlanders have elected office bearers.
The executive committee at Dynamos is appointed by the club’s board of directors.
In company-owned teams, there has also been lack of distinction between company employees and the management of the team.
Chicken Inn, Triangle and Hwange are still to have that clear distinction.
However, at FC Platinum, they have a clear structure that separates them from the principal owners of the club Mimosa, while their commercial arm is also headed separately.
