Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA have finally acted to pull the plug on the operations of a surrogate association — Zimbabwe Football Federation for Amateur and Social Leagues — that had been claiming to spearhead development of the game in mostly rural and farming communities.
There had been genuine concerns that ZIFASOL, a controversial entity formed in the era of the Normalisation Committee at ZIFA, were causing some confusion in the national game as they also conducted coaching courses.
Fronted by veteran administrator and former ZIFA board member Francis Zimunya, who is their president, ZIFASOL have even told those who believe in them that they can also arrange international football tours.
However, ZIFASOL’s bid to be formally registered with ZIFA hit a snag with the domestic football mother body revealing via a statement on Monday that they had rejected the application for membership.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association wishes to inform the public and all football stakeholders that the application by the Zimbabwe Football Federation for Amateur and Social Leagues (ZIFASOL) for membership to ZIFA was not approved,” ZIFA said.
“It has, however, come to the Association’s attention that ZIFASOL continues to organise football activities at the area zone level without the necessary authority.
“ZIFA reiterates that the organisation of area zone football is the exclusive mandate of ZIFA and its officially recognised members. No other entity is permitted to operate such structures outside the jurisdiction of the Association.’’
ZIFA also rightly expressed their concern that the unsanctioned courses could result in unsuspecting participants being fleeced of their money for participation fees and certification.
“Furthermore, ZIFASOL has been conducting football training courses without accreditation or approval from ZIFA.
“The public is therefore advised that any football training or education programmes conducted under ZIFASOL are not recognised and are hereby declared null and void.
“In line with the statutes of the Association and to maintain the integrity and proper governance of football in Zimbabwe, ZIFA has directed the immediate suspension of all activities organised under the ZIFASOL banner.
“These activities constitute parallel administration of football, which is in direct violation of ZIFA regulations. All clubs and leagues previously affiliated with or participating in ZIFASOL competitions are directed to immediately align themselves with officially sanctioned ZIFA Area Zones structures.”
ZIFA, who have applied for assistance from FIFA through the FIFA Forward Fund, are hoping to upscale their development programmes across the country through the office of the technical director when the world body release the resources.
Crucially, ZIFA are also wary of incidents where if unchecked teams could embark on match-fixing scams, teams being stranded outside the country and other activities which could dent the nation and the association’s images.
And as a proactive measure, ZIFA have insisted that all organised football must follow the structures that make up the association’s Congress.
ZIFA are aware that the Sports and Recreation Commission will hold them to account if the name of the country is brought into disrepute should anything go amiss with the game.
It is also against this background that the Sports Commission only clear for tours, teams or organisations that would have applied through the respective national sporting associations.
“ZIFA remains committed to structured football development and calls on all stakeholders to respect and uphold the regulatory framework that governs the beautiful game in Zimbabwe.
“For any enquiries or further guidance, stakeholders are encouraged to contact the nearest ZIFA office,” added ZIFA.
Zimunya defiant
A defiant Zimunya, however, hit back at the ZIFASOL suspension and threatened to drag ZIFA before the Sports Commission.
He wrote to ZIFA chief executive Yvonne Manwa and told her the association has no mandate to ban “organisations that are promoting football in every ward in the country.”
“We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 12 June 2025, whose contents are noted. However, after perusing your document to ZIFASOL, our response is as follows . . . we take your decision in the document the opposite way because of the following reasons:
On several occasions we have sought to have a meeting with you as ZIFA in order to exchange notes and see how we could work together in our endeavour to harmonise our work but you have failed to accommodate us on several occasions by giving unfounded excuses.
You have closed the door on ZIFASOL to be in the Assembly without following the proper procedure as enshrined in the ZIFA constitution as well as without giving us the reasons for such a decision which affects thousands of people that ZIFA has failed to reach out for the past 20 years or more. May we remind you that every child has a right to education and skills training.
ZIFASOL is not a ZIFA affiliate as it is an independent organisation with its own constitution and rules and regulations that govern its operations.
ZIFA has the mandate to promote football and not banning organisations that are promoting and developing football in every ward in Zimbabwe.
The book of the land, the constitution provides for freedom of association that ZIFA intends to violate. This is also tantamount to violating people’s human rights, especially those living in remote areas in Zimbabwe where ZIFA has never set foot,’’ Zimunya said.
Zimunya also claimed that ZIFASOL was created with the blessings of the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, and as such, he would drag ZIFA before Government for arbitration if the association maintained the ban on his federation.
“We are not stopping our programmes since our existence was born out of the Minister’s mandate as well as our members’ and organisational initiatives.
“If you continue to interfere with our operations, we will have no choice but to refer the matter to the Minister, the SRC will go for arbitration.”
