THE financially-squeezed Zifa is set to get $750 000 after world soccer governing body Fifa announced that it will give each of the 209 national associations the operational endowments.
NewsDay Editorial
Zifa will also get substantial amounts as grants from the Confederation of African Football (Caf), who will receive $7 million from Fifa as part of proceeds from the ongoing World Cup in Brazil.
With Fifa elections due next year, some have labelled it a vote-buying gimmick by Sepp Blatter who will seek a fifth four-year-consecutive term, but for often struggling African football associations, this is much-needed finance for football development.
The grants are extended under the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) and were designed to motivate and empower national associations and confederations to organise development programmes according to their growth paths and strengthen football and its administration in the long term.
The FAP was intended to encourage the investment of funds in long-term development initiatives and to advocate principles of accountability and good governance in financial matters.
Among some of its aims is to establish modern, efficient, functional and transparent football administration; strengthen the administrative and technical capacities of its members and confederations; promoting the sustainable development of Fifa member associations, and solidarity between them and to ensure associations comply with Fifa membership and competition criteria.
Sadly, this is what has been lacking at Zifa and Zimbabweans would not be hoodwinked by qualifying for just two editions of the Afcon finals in 34 years to believe that enough was being done to service the needs of the game.
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And because the basics of the game are not being met, the country cannot start demanding that the Warriors should play at every edition of the Afcon and World Cup finals.
It is pertinent to ensure that Zifa must channel the Fifa grants towards meeting all demands tabled by soccer-loving citizens. Clear governance structures must be put in place and the use of funds must be followed by audited financial statements indicating what the money would have been used for.
Blatter has been kind to the current Zifa administration. He has visited Zimbabwe for the first time and has given the national association $500 000 to build its new headquarters in Harare, besides the millions of dollars ploughed into the Goal Project.
There has not been a report from Zifa on progress in securing land to build its new headquarters and if that is not done within a stipulated time, then Fifa might be forced to withdraw the money and give it to other national associations who can put the funds to better use.
It is therefore incumbent on Zifa to prove they are there to work for the growth of the game. Zifa needs to move with speed. If they cannot get a place to build, they would rather buy a suitable place that would house all their activities and, perhaps, even the flagship Premier Soccer League.
Again, Zifa must still appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture so that the committee gets an appreciation of the problems in football and how government can assist.
It is clear that the committee is acting in good faith by summoning them to the august House. In fact, the committee will give Zifa a fresh start –which they sorely miss.
