THE new Zifa Board met the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa in Harare yesterday and pledged to retire the $6 million in the next four years while creating reliable revenue streams that will make the national association self reliant.
WELLINGTON TONI
Zifa is saddled with the debt which has been accumulating at an alarming rate from $600 000 in 2010 to about
$6 million last year which has made it almost impossible for the national association to service football development.
Cuthbert Dube, recently re-elected to a second term, led his team which include new vice president Omega Sibanda, Tawengwa Hara, Fungai Chihuri, Bernard Gwarada, John Phiri, Twine Phiri and Miriam Sibanda to the meeting.
In a release after the meeting, which started at 11am and ended well after 3pm, the board said: “The president expressed their commitment to thoroughly service football in respect of general administration, creation of pathways for football development and that the debt should be serviced in the next four years.
“He (Dube) also expressed confidence in the creation of reliable revenue streams, the establishment of efficient and effective commercial ways of raising funds like farming and mining. The $1-for-football programme was also discussed at length and the Minister said this was an urgent matter.
“The board also explained to the minister that they will unveil competitions for youths, women and all football portfolios. He said he will also ensure that the FA Cup is conducted this year. The board also made a commitment that they will make concerted efforts to revise downwards levies that are paid by clubs.
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“The board and minister also discussed the rules and regulations for Zifa and promised that these will be ratified by May and ensure that they conform to the Fifa rules and Regulations.
“An extraordinary general meeting for the assembly has been slated for later in April where all audited accounts for the last four years would be presented for adoption or otherwise.
“An induction course will be conducted by Fifa at the end of April for the new board members while all affiliates will also meet by May to look into issues of organisational structures and general football guidelines.
“In next few weeks, the national association will start preparations for a strategic plan and retreat to be conducted by the end of May where a strategic document will be crafted that will redefine the vision of the association and strategic focus areas,” read the communiqué.
It continued: “The issue of the new headquarters was also discussed and it was agreed that land be sought within this month and the minister pledged to talk to his counterpart in Local Government to ensure this.”
The board will hold its first meeting this weekend where they will discuss benchmarks for the national team, technical appointments, organisational structures, Zifa constitution and rules and regulations, roles of the new board members and immediate and long term plans in a meeting that will also involve senior managers at Zifa.
Warriors coach Ian Gorowa does not have a contract with Zifa while Peter Ndlovu, now manager at Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa, has not been replaced at the Under-23 side.
