Southern region Zifa clubs meet

THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) Southern Region Division One teams successfully hosted their mid-season meeting on Saturday, where one of the main issues tackled was the consistent failure by teams to fulfil their fixtures.

This season, a number of matches have failed to kick-off in the league with teams giving excuses at the 11th hour. It’s a situation that paints a bad picture of the league and the region’s leadership has moved in to avoid such situations.

Presenting his report, chairman Lloyd Munhanga called the teams to stick to the rule book at all times.
“A few teams have struggled to fulfil away games. We have also had games unfulfilled due to miscommunication between individual teams and the office. The anomaly has since been ratified. I implore clubs to please always refer to the Rules and Regulations and in need liaise directly with the office and not my executive.

“Towards the end of the half-year, there were disruptions on some games perpetrated by the referees who refused to adjudicate on certain games over money issues.

“Despite the two meetings we held with the then leadership of local referees, we are still in communication with their new leadership with the hope of finding an amicable solution. A workable solution has to be found before the recommencement of football,” said Munhanga.

He also said they were talking to members in a bid to improve the game as well as the league.
“We have been actively listening to our members and to this end we intend to hold an administration course to help shape the direction of our football. We are custodians of football in region and country at large and have a responsibility to improve our football for the future generation.

“I’m concerned about the state of our football especially when looking at the welfare of players and technical staff. Only a few clubs can afford to pay them remuneration. Our league should be creating job opportunities for those in our industry. Serious investment is needed to make it lucrative.

“Player movement could be more transparent and clubs pay fees accordingly. Player development fees also need to be followed through as the intended beneficiaries are always on the losing end.

“There is a need for us to set up a player’s development committee responsible for player movements and payment of obligations as enshrined in the Fifa Regulations on the status and transfer of players.

“Lastly but most importantly we are working on a revised administrative structure that will see evaluation of the existing administrator’s roles and the creation of new positions to improve the overall strength of our management,” said Munhanga whose committee replaced Andrew Tapela’s.
— @innocentskizoe