THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has unveiled two flagship initiatives aimed at transforming the country’s football landscape beyond filling stadiums, focusing instead on rebuilding the sport’s foundation.
The initiatives — the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and the BancABC Roots Impact Programme — are designed to connect grassroots football with elite structures, creating a direct pathway from villages, schools and communities to the national team.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup is an inclusive nationwide competition that cuts across all levels of the game, from amateur and grassroots teams to top-flight clubs. It also integrates women’s football, futsal and beach soccer into a unified structure.
Addressing the media, Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi said the focus is on development rather than trophies.
“They are about creating opportunity, restoring structure, and ensuring that every young player in Zimbabwe has a clear pathway to grow within the game,” he said.
To ensure professionalism and fairness, Zifa said the tournament will be governed by regulations aligned with Caf and Fifa standards.
Zifa executive committee member for competitions, Thomas Marambanyika, said the framework guarantees consistency while promoting inclusivity.
“This is about ensuring fairness, consistency and professionalism across all levels of participation,” he said.
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The BancABC Roots Impact Programme will focus on schools and community centres, serving as a talent identification pipeline for young players.
Competitions manager Kudzai Chitima said the emphasis is on regular competitive match experience.
“One of our key priorities is to ensure that young players are not just training, but consistently playing in organised, competitive environments,” said Chitima. “Through these programmes, we are significantly increasing the number of matches available to juniors, which is critical for their growth and progression.”
The briefing was also attended by acting secretary Norman Gwangwadza and technical director Dominique Niyonzima, who will oversee coordination across all provinces.
The strategy prioritises gender inclusion, broader grassroots reach and integration of formats such as Futsal and beach soccer.
