Talent deserves a chance — Chitima

KUDZAI CHITIMA’s appointment by the world soccer governing body as Zimbabwe’s FIFA Forward Programme country manager was unexpected. He becomes the first FIFA appointee to work full-time at ZIFA. His mandate is to revive development programmes. The Sunday Mail Sports Reporter Don makanyanga (DM) spoke to Kudzai Chitima (KC) — a performance analyst and scout — on his plans.

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DM: Congratulations on your appointment by FIFA. How has been work so far?

KC : Thank you, my brother. I accept this responsibility with great humility. The first few days have been about analysing the systems, structures and standard operating procedures, if any, and ascertain where we are, where we want to go and do gap analysis.

DM : What exactly does your role at ZIFA entail and how ready are you for the challenge that lies ahead?

KC: I accepted this challenge with a clear understanding of the huge task that lies ahead, and it’s something that I embrace because I have been preparing for such an opportunity.

As you are aware, FIFA provides funds to all its member associations (MAs), and under the FIFA development programme (Forward 3.0), it plans to increase investment in football development (infrastructure like stadiums, technical centres and headquarters), youth development, grassroots, women’s football and football for schools.

My role is to apply for the funding and oversee the projects from inception to completion, while apprising FIFA of every stage or milestone.

DM: From a personal perspective, what does this role mean to you?

KC: It means a lot to me, being a former player myself who was scouted late; I know the negative effects of that. I could have probably played overseas.

So, this role gives me an opportunity to correct that anomaly and, like FIFA always say, we have to give every talent a chance, regardless of where or who they are.

DM: Do you believe in a short-term top-down (focus on current senior Warriors) approach or a long-term bottom-up (invest more in developing better players) approach?

KC : The top-bottom approach has always shown us it does not work. We have to look around and find inspiration from countries better than us. Look at Senegal. They are the champions of Under-17, Under-20, CHAN and AFCON senior. This is through a deliberate strategic plan they have in place, which provides for a standard talent development programme with clear talent pathways and transitions from one age group to another. This, in turn, provides a larger pool of players to select from.

If Sadio Mane retires, there is already a new “Mane” waiting on the sidelines, and I believe that’s how it should be. Grassroots are key to any nation’s success.

DM : Will your allocation of funding align to these beliefs?

KC : Of course, it has to follow that. We have to be deliberate in whatever we do, be patient and trust the process. It takes time to reap rewards from initiatives like youth development — including the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, and FIFA Football for Schools.

DM: A major issue has been the lack of written policies and standards to follow, especially for national selections across all teams, junior and senior, which has led to people corruptly influencing selections and processes. Is there time to have a policy in place before matches start?

KC : As you are aware, I am not part of the Normalisation Committee. My role is one I have explained above. Of course, I will be working with them and the incoming elected board to structure and create a contract of agreed objectives to send to FIFA for Forward funds application, but the systems and policies, like on the national teams, are not my jurisdiction.

DM: A lot of emphasis seems to be put on Zimbabwean kids in the diaspora, popularly known as the British Brigade. What, in your view, needs to be done to afford equal opportunities to those talented kids in local academies and community clubs across the country’s provinces?

KC: You know, I always advocate giving every talent a chance. The best chance to offer that is to have quality talent development programmes that bridge the quality, if any, between the locally produced and the overseas ones. That way, every player, regardless of geographical location, can be seen in the same light and picked solely on their footballing abilities.

I am a FIFA Forward manager dealing with FIFA-funded projects, from infrastructure to capacity development to women’s football, and that is my area.

DM: Zimbabwe does not have a FIFA or CAF-certified stadium at the moment, will this issue also form part of your priority list?

KC: It’s part of FIFA’s Forward 3.0 objectives for its MAs to have at least a stadium, a headquarters and a technical centre. So, yes, it’s part of my portfolio, in the long run, to build one or all of the above, because it’s about leaving a legacy by FIFA to its member associations.