Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE upcoming ZIFA Presidential Cup had already set a new bar with an unprecedented whopping US$15 million stake over the next five years.
But with the idea getting incredible support across the football panorama, the amount has now reportedly almost doubled ahead of the expected mega launch of this flagship knock-out competition later this month.
The game-changer contest will run from the grassroots to the elite leagues for both genders and will be bankrolled by President Mnangagwa whose love for football and sport has been underscored by his support for various national teams.
President Mnangagwa recently donated US$400 000 to the Warriors for the Africa Cup of Nations cause at the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
Over 300 senior men and women, at least 40 grassroots teams and at least 160 futsal and beach soccer teams will participate in this fiesta.
While the US$15 million that was first meant to see off the tournament for the next five years was going to be split into US$3 million per year, indications are that the new package will see close to US$4.5 million now being spent per year until 2030.
The men’s tournament will see teams from Area Zones up to the Premier Soccer League battling it out for honours which will also come with a ticket to represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup while the women’s Division One sides up to the Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League clubs will also be involved in their own royal rumble.
Each of the 10 provinces across the country will have an Under-14 and Under-16 boys’ and girls’ team, each taking part in what will be a league format for the categories as ZIFA seeks to see youngsters playing the game throughout the year.
The coming of the biggest ever tournament in this country was one of the key pillars in ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi’s manifesto when he was campaigning for the post before landing it on January 25, last year.
ZIFA sources yesterday said: “The sponsorship package has multiplied, and the tournament looks poised to continue to be bigger and exciting.
“I can tell you that the figures have almost doubled. It’s all looking positive and encouraging. The launch itself will be massive and it could still be on at the end of this month.
“Everyone is excited with this development. There has been talks going on and these are the new developments.”
The ZIFA Junior Cup is particularly set to get a huge boost, with a leading financial institution set to pour more funding into the grassroots impact project.
This augurs well with ZIFA’s junior development agenda, which the association is prioritising.
Former Warriors international Cephas Chimedza, a product of the development channels, yesterday welcomed the involvement of juniors in the tournament.
The 2004 Castle Soccer Star of the Year with CAPS United was also part of a group that benefited from Dynamos’ partnership with Churchill High School.
“Schools and junior football were well connected back in our days. There were provincial selections and we knew that we would meet players like Mkhokheli Dube and Vusa Nyoni in Bulawayo or Justice Majabvi in Midlands,” said Chimedza.
“There was so much excitement in these leagues. I remember we were at Churchill School together with the likes of Eddie Mashiri, Samson Choruwa and Leo Kurauzvione. Everything was just well organised.
“It’s a good move by ZIFA to revive that mood. It will do wonders for our football because the very foundations that build the future is junior football.”
ZIFA, according to sources, also secured a financial institution that is ready to go into bed with them on junior development.
“There is a financial institution that has come on board to help support the grassroots impact project.
“The junior tournament could end up being named after that bank.
“Loose ends are being tied up at the moment but basically, the entity is on board and junior football development in this country will never be the same again,” the sources said.
