Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda, [email protected]
FOOTBALL development in Matabeleland North has hit a gear up, igniting hopes of unleashing talent that will change lives for the better, following the donation of balls and equipment through the Fifa 2.0 Forward project.
On Wednesday, there was no bigger gift to talent development than the consignment of balls, nets and other football paraphernalia in Binga District by the Zimbabwe Football Association’s Normalisation Committee.
The Normalisation Committee is in Matabeleland North, doing stakeholder engagements, with the Fifa 2.0 Forward project taking centre stage.
Binga District was the first in the province to benefit from the programme that aims at uplifting football standards at grassroots level globally.
Manjolo Business Centre was the first point of call in the remotest of settlements in Matabeleland North.
More than 30 football teams, with attention on those with junior development initiatives, benefited, marking the start of the revival and support of unheralded talent in the furthest parts of the country.
Fifa Forward country manager Kudzai Chitima told Zimpapers Sport Hub on Thursday that they would want to reach out to the remotest and marginalised areas countrywide.
“This is a Fifa 2.0 Forward 2.0 project which aims to resuscitate grassroots by introducing junior development leagues in all provinces. It is also in line with one of Fifa’s objectives to increase mass participation and give every talent a chance,” said Chitima.
He said through the project, more is yet to come that will benefit football development at grassroots level.
“This is just the beginning, with the distribution of the equipment. The technical director who will be announced in a few days, will be responsible for drafting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the national technical plan, which touches on all technical aspects of the whole football ecosystem.”
Zifa Normalisation Committee member Rosemary Mugadza, who is part of the entourage in Matabeleland North, said there was no better gift in grassroots development than the Fifa 2.0 project.
“This programme is part of the Normalisation Committee’s operational strategy to increase participation and competition at grassroots level. It will complement the Confederation of African Football’s Under 15 African Schools programme as well as other programmes coming up soon, for junior development,” said Mugadza.
Among the beneficiaries from Binga were Binga Football Academy, Manjolo High School, Fire Fire Juniors, Zuka Junior Stars, Hamarnation Juniors and a host of teams that have for long been conducting football development in the district.
-@NkosieLegend
Online Reporter