Football Indaba set to tackle challenges

The Chronicle

25 September 2012

COULD today’s Football Indaba in Harare be the first step in turning around the fortunes of Zimbabwean soccer?

The Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture together with the Sports and Recreation Commission and the Zimbabwe Football Association are today meeting football stakeholders and the meeting is aimed at finding lasting solutions to the perennial problems dogging the country’s biggest sport.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, David Coltart yesterday tweeted that he was getting ready for today’s meeting.

“Preparing for Football Indaba with Zifa to be held tomorrow Wednesday 26th September in Harare. Time to sort our Zimbabwe football,” said Coltart.

The major challenge that Zifa faces is lack of funding which has in the past seen national teams failing to adequately prepare for international matches.

Last month Zifa failed to send the national Under-20 men’s team for the return leg of the African Youth Championships qualifier against Angola in Luanda due to lack of resources.

At the weekend, the national Under-17 boys’ team almost failed to travel to Maputo for the return leg of the African Youth Championship qualifier against Mozambique who they beat 2-0 to advance to the next stage on a 4-2 aggregate scoreline. The Young Warriors made the trip after Zifa secured a bus at the 11th hour.

On numerous occasions, the national team has almost failed to fulfill their away games forcing Zifa president Cuthbert Dube to use his personal money to foot the team’s costs. Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources Limited are some of the companies that have at times helped the cash-strapped football mother body.

The companies are some of the football partners that are expected to attend the Football Indaba set for Pandhari Lodge. The SRC’s corporate communications officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said they have invited a number of stakeholders with a view to addressing problems bedevilling Zimbabwe football.

“All is set for this milestone or landmark meeting and the stakeholders have confirmed their participation. The Mayor of Bulawayo Thaba Moyo and Town Clerk Middleton Nyoni will be here and so will be representatives from Mutare, Masvingo and Harare councils.

“The councils are the owners of stadia and as such they play a big role in our football and we need them to be part of this indaba. We have companies and soccer administrators who will be part of this meeting,” said Nheweyembwa.

The facilitators for today’s meeting are lawyer Canaan Dube and Rejoice Ngwenya. Nheweyembwa said the indaba will also seek to come up with investment models which will help raise funds for national teams and other developmental programmes.

The Asiagate matter is also likely to be among the topics that would come for discussion at the Football Indaba. Zifa will also seek an insight from the corporate world on why they have been shunning the game.

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