dyton mupawaenda
Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE international Marshall Munetsi yesterday received a special letter from FIFA president Gianni Infantino endorsing his work ethic on the football pitch and the work of his foundation in supporting the underprivileged children back home.
The tireless midfielder has caught the attention of the world football’s most powerful man with his philanthropic work after it was revealed recently that he has signed a one-year contract extension with French Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims.
The new contract which will see keep Munetsi at Reims until June 2027, also includes a clause where the French side will donate €100 to the player’s foundation for every kilometre he runs.
Infantino yesterday dispatched special envoys that included Regional Director of FIFA’s Member Associations Division for Africa Gelson Fernandes and Zimbabwean Solomon Mudege, who is the Head of FIFA Development Programmes (Africa), to deliver his special message to the Reims midfielder.
Fernandes and Mudege met Munetsi at the Stade de Reims offices in France and presented him with “a special letter, ball and shirt, on behalf of the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.”
“After signing a new contract, the club and Marshall entered into a special agreement. For each kilometre the midfielder runs during games, the club will donate €100 to the Marshall Munetsi Foundation, which provides access to education for children from underprivileged communities,” said FIFA in a brief statement.
“Fans at the stadium and TV viewers will be able to follow live the number of kilometres run by Marshall. The FIFA President praised ‘…this magnificent initiative for Zimbabwean youth and your exemplary commitment to fight for a better world.’”
The Stade de Reims player revealed that he donates around 10 percent of his salary each month to the development of his foundation in Zimbabwe. The Marshall Munetsi Foundation has paid fees for 60 underprivileged children at Mabvuku and Donnybrook primary schools.
He also pledged to supplement their stationery and further donated food hampers to residents of Mabvuku, Caledonia, Chizhanje and Tafara area, where he hails from.
The foundation also donated kits and eight soccer balls at Kadyamadare Primary School in his rural home in Chikwaka, among many other philanthropic projects.
His club Stade de Reims were excited by the gesture by Infantino.
“Our Red and Whites had the right this morning to a prestigious visit,” Stade de Reims said in a statement.
“Gelson Fernandes, Regional Director of FIFA’s Member Associations Division for Africa, accompanied by Solomon Mudege, Head of FIFA Development Programmes (Africa) came to present a shirt to Marshall Munetsi to show their support in the joint commitment of Stade de Reims and the Reims midfielder in Zimbabwe.
“Miles that make sense … It is with these words that FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his support for Marshall Munetsi and the entire Champagne club through a letter.
“The former Swiss international, Gelson Fernandes then took the floor in front of the players and the professional staff to congratulate Marshall Munetsi and the Champagne club and recall the need to undertake this type of action.
“As a reminder, the signing of Marshall Munetsi’s extension contract includes a clause unprecedented in Europe: for each kilometre covered by the number 15 Champagne with the SDR, the Stade de Reims undertakes to donate 100 euros to the Marshall Munetsi Foundation*.”
According to the arrangement between Munetsi and Stade de Reims, spectators and television viewers will be able to follow live the kilometres covered by the player, as well as his monetisation displayed in real time on the big screens of the stadium.
Stade de Reims general manager Mathieu Lacour said it was important for the club to support Munetsi’s charity initiatives.
The gifted Zimbabwe international has played 30 Ligue 1 games this season, scoring seven goals and providing three assists. He was recently nominated for the prestigious Marc-Vivien Foe award, which is awarded annually to the best African player in the French top flight league.
Online Reporter