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FIFA Southern region representative Ashford Mamelodi says he believes the crippling $6 million debt is affecting football development in the country. The Botswana-based administrator, who was sent by FIFA, feels the ZIFA debt is making it difficult for the executive committee to freely operate and implement football development programmes.“For me one of the big things that must be removed is this debt situation, honestly, then we would be left with no excuse really of not developing grassroots football, junior football and referees in the manner you ought to.
“I think the economy in this country, the debt situation at ZIFA makes it very difficult and everybody hides behind that and everybody uses that as a problem.
“And like I said, FIFA continues to fund programmes, unfortunately in countries that have a financial crisis such as this one, then the money is diverted to addressing debts and so forth and football development suffers” said Mamelodi.
The veteran administrator assured the disgruntled stakeholders that the meetings were not just a talk show.
“I just want to assure you guys that I have heard you, today and yesterday, and FIFA will act.
“They sent me here as part of the programme to interact with yourselves and I really enjoyed doing it. “You guys spoke from the heart and everything would be communicated.
“I really want to thank you all. You have raised concerns about football in this country and you are really calling upon FIFA to help restore order through this exercise all that would be captured in the report,” said Mamelodi.
The FIFA representative, yesterday heard presentations from former referees Wilfred Mukuna and Brighton Mudzamiri, Footballers Union of Zimbabwe president Desmond Maringwa, former player Stanley Chirambadare, football agent Stanley Makombe and former PSL chairperson Twine Phiri among others.
“You have all been very genuine and candid, I think you held nothing back. People were free to say what they wanted to say. In your view, clearly something is wrong, major things are wrong here and they ought to be fixed.
“I have been told by ZIFA that a technical director is now in place and I am really hoping through his office a lot will be implemented and I am hoping to interact with him.
“I want to assure you FIFA will take your views seriously, we will obviously interact even before I leave with ZIFA executive committee and their input would be sought and then a way forward would be found.
“I am a messenger and I am not a decider and I am really praying that all the problems that bedevil Zimbabwean football there will be a solution that will be found,” said Mamelodi.
Online Reporter