FASL lobby for Zifa backing

association to link them with Caf ahead of the second African Futsal Championships to be hosted by Libya in 2012.
FASL director for development and training, Frank Farakezi yesterday said they received an invitation from Caf to compete in the championships and they would want to avoid the mistake that led to their failure to enter the World Cup qualifiers.
“We should have taken part in the World Cup qualifiers this year but we couldn’t because of issues beyond our control.
“Zifa said we communicated late but this time we have notified them early and we hope the letter of engagement will be sent to Caf as soon as possible.
“It’s a good opportunity for us.
“We want to take part in such events because this is the only other way we can get this game in the spotlight. There is talent in Zimbabwe that is not being recognised,” said Farakezi.
Caf have set August 31, 2011, as the deadline for all engagements and the qualifying system will be determined by the number of teams that would have expressed their interest to take part in the competition.
The Championship was originally pencilled to take place in April but was cancelled after Burkina Faso withdrew from hosting the event.
Libya, who are the defending champions, hosted the last competition in 2008 and have been offered the opportunity to host it again.
Five-Aside reached its peak in Zimbabwe in the 1990s but has continued to suffer in the shadows of the Premier Soccer League.
Zimbabwe last took part in international competitions in 1998 when they narrowly missed a World Cup slot after coming third in the qualifiers held in Egypt, with only two teams from the region progressing to the finals of the tournament.
Farakezi said the domestic leagues have been running smoothly every year. The Bulawayo league is now in their seventh week while the Harare province begins next month with 12 teams.
“We have been involved in Five-Aside for some time and I believe Zimbabwe is prepared to take on other countries in such competitions.
“I say this because at our peak we could play any team and we have seen many players easily making their way into the Premiership straight from Futsal.”
Farakezi said they were hoping to revive the game which produced players like Edward Sadomba, Marlon Jani, Muzondiwa Gonese and young Gunners midfielder Wellington Kamudyariwa.
They have lined up courses to take place in all provinces before the end of the year and 21 people are set to be presented with their certificates tomorrow after completing a Futsal Level One course that targeted mainly school-teachers in Harare.
Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze is expected to be the guest of honour.
“We are going to have another course starting in Harare next week and from there we will move to Gweru, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Mashonaland West next month in our drive to cover the whole country.
“The aim is to embrace the grassroots and our school league will begin this term with a tournament marked for the end of June.
“We are hoping to utilise the first term of the year in future since five-a-side is an indoor game, which can be played all year round.
“We have also enlisted five-aside to be played at the national Youth Games this year as a demo game.
“The teachers will help spread the game in schools,” said Farakezi.