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NewsDay

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Zifa aims to raise funds for Afcon qualifiers at Trade Fair

Sport
The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) is aiming to capitalise on this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) to raise funds for the 2015 Africa

The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) is aiming to capitalise on this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) to raise funds for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers through the exhibition of their products and targeting the corporate world for sponsorship.

By Ronald Moyo Sports Reporter

The national football mother body will be exhibiting products such as national team jerseys, magazines as well as persuading the corporate world to advertise with Zifa is also one of the major aims in this year’s edition.

Zifa is in need of over $1 million to fund at least nine matches of the 2015 Afcon qualifiers as the draw will be conducted on April 27.

The first games of the qualifying stages will kick-off in the first weekend of next month.

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday told our sister paper Southern Eye that the football mother body normally spent at least $150 000 for each international match and the costs were unbearable hence calling for government and corporate support in times of need.

“Football worldwide survives on corporate sponsorship, but for the past years we have seen it dwindling because of the Asiagate scandal. We need to raise money for the Afcon qualifiers, but we do not have sponsors. People should not expect Zifa to have money because we spend at least $150 000 for international games, but we make less than $30 000 in gate takings,” Gwesela said.

Zifa will be hoping to lure the corporate world to advertise their products with the football mother body through perimeter banners, training kits, travelling kits and back drop banners during matches.

Gwesela also said Zifa was taking the opportunity to interact with those who have questions about Zifa, accusing some sections of the media of tarnishing the image of the country’s football mother body.

“The reason why we are here is that we are the nation’s football mother body. We want to face the football fraternity and the corporate world because there are a lot of misconceptions about Zifa. We have been accused by some sections of the media of corporate mis-governance as they claim that we failed to produce financial statements. We want to make it clear that such reports are highly speculative in nature as we will produce financial statements from 2010-13 in the extra ordinary general meeting to be held next month where they are going to be ratified and presented to the public for scrutiny,” Gwesela said.

Zimbabwe have been struggling in continental competitions due to financial constraints, but defied odds putting a superb display reaching the semi-final of the African Championships tournament that was played in South Africa in January.