Fifa VP invites Miriam Sibanda

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
DESPITE her alleged suspension as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Women Football, Fifa vice president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein invited Miriam Sibanda to a high level football symposium hosted by the Jordanian Football Association. Zifa president Cuthbert Dube endorsed Sibanda’s suspension when he referred her case to the disciplinary committee.

The two day symposium was held from May 3 to May 4 at the King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre on the Dead Sea and saw over 850 delegates, including Sibanda, Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda and board member Fungai Chihuri, attending.

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela on Tuesday said he was not aware that Miriam Sibanda was part of the Zimbabwean delegation that went to the Asian nation.

“As Zifa, we sent two representatives, I’m not aware that Miriam also went there,” said Gwesela.

However, Chronicle Sport has it on good authority that Sibanda, who has the support of 12 Super League clubs whose season is set to start anytime soon, got an invitation from Prince Ali, who is also seeking to unseat Fifa president Sepp Blatter during the May 29 elections.

“Zifa may not want people to know that Miriam was part of the delegation that went to Jordan because of the obvious slap in the face but Miriam was indeed part of the group,” said an insider.

The two day symposium has been described by the Soccerex chief executive officer Dunacan Revie as a huge success that grew by 30 to 40 percent.

“Soccerex has grown by 30 to 40 per cent this year in Jordan and our third year will also be in Jordan and it has been a great success this year. We got great names, not to mention the opening by Prince Ali,” he told The Jordan Times in an interview.

Living football legend Diego Maradona officially closed the Indaba.

“Famous clubs are taking part in this year’s forum including Milan and Arsenal. This year 40 football associations and 60 clubs are taking part,” added Revie.

Revie said all sessions were informative and beneficial for all regions, including Asia.

A number of issues were on the agenda of the two-day forum, including the development of local leagues, women’s football and infrastructure.

A total of 85 national federation representatives, and 60 clubs and league representatives also attended the event.

Since the first event in 1996, Soccerex has led the way in bringing the football business community together. In nearly two decades, it has worked in 13 countries across five continents providing learning and networking opportunities to nearly 50,000 industry figures.