Fifa affirm backing for Zifa

yesterday revealing that they will be sending more experts to assist the association turn professional in the next two years.
Zifa have begun implementing their ambitious restructuring programme that has already seen more senior management appointments such as that of a chief operations officer and marketing and financing managers being recruited.
A communications manager is expected to take office at the start of next month.
Fifa senior development manager for African programmes Francesco Bruscoli and the world body’s development officer for Southern Africa Ashford Mamelodi told participants to the Fifa seminar for general secretaries and chief executives here that they were satisfied with Zifa’s efforts to improve their corporate governance structures.
Bruscoli said Fifa also sympathised with Zifa given the background that the association was emerging from a sad chapter in the domestic game in which its image was severely dented by allegations of match-fixing.
The Fifa senior manager for African development programmes, who accompanied Fifa president Sepp Blatter on his historic maiden visit to Zimbabwe last month, stressed that the future of the local game lay in the identification and nurturing of young talent.
Bruscoli also insisted that Blatter’s working visit to Harare “was not by coincidence’.’
“It’s in the schools that football grows through the grassroots programme and we are happy that the Government of Zimbabwe has agreed to partner Zifa in that regard.
“We know that Zifa have gone through a tough time and match-fixing and corruption have marred the image of Zifa.
“Fifa is, however, aware of the efforts to clean up that image and Mr. Blatter did not come here by chance but is a sign that Fifa is ready to assist Zimbabwe and we appreciate the efforts being made by the Zifa leadership.
“Fifa have spent the last week reviewing the organisational structure at Zifa and seeing how best they can come in and assist,” Bruscoli said.
Bruscoli also told the delegates that Fifa recognised the role of chief executives and general secretaries in the various member associations and noted that they were fundamental to the development of football.
It is the first time that Zifa have been granted the privilege to hold such a high-level seminar by Fifa and the association’s leadership have, in the last few months, tried to seize on the goodwill that is now existing between themselves and the world body.
“This seminar gives the possibility of both Fifa and the member associations to share experiences.
“It is a chance to freely interact and discuss the problems or frustrations you (chief executives) face with your association presidents or board so identify ways to help each other and how to grow as a region,” Bruscoli said.
Bruscoli also challenged the participants, drawn from 15 English speaking Eastern and Southern African countries, to take a cue from Botswana’s fairy-tale 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Zebras became the first team to seal a place at the 2012 Nations Cup finals topping a five-team group that included Egypt, Togo, Malawi and Chad.
“Botswana is having amazing results with their Afcon qualifiers and you can share experiences. We want Southern Africa to be represented at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil,” said Bruscoli.
Bruscoli later gave the participants an overview of the Fifa development programmes in Africa and the world body’s Financial Assistance programme in which each member association receives an annual grant of US$250 000.
Mamelodi told the participants that Zambian legend and the Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya would fly into Victoria Falls this morning to discuss with the delegates the Confederation of African Football’s interaction with Fifa in developing the game on the continent.
Bwalya was, in February, elected onto the Caf executive committee following elections on the sidelines of the African Championships of Nations in Khartoum, Sudan.
Mamelodi revealed that Bwalya was but one of the team of experts from Fifa that include Mark Goddard who will take the participants through the Transfer Matching System – a new electronic form of registering players being used around the globe.
The veteran administrator and former Cosafa secretary-general also spoke about the professionalisation programme and told participants that it was open to all member associations.