adminIn a telephone interview yesterday, the Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said the finance committee will examine Zifa’s financial books with a view to coming up with strategies of addressing the financial challenges facing the association.
He said the association was set to come down hard on clubs and individuals failing to remit transfer fee commission as the amount has ballooned to more than $280 000.
Mashingaidze said they were dismayed as there were several affiliates who were not remitting statutory fees yet the association was in dire need of money.
“The finance committee meets tomorrow to look at outstanding issues including the budget. They have to come up with obligations so that we can activate ways of tackling our $4 million debt.
“We have written letters of demand to all those who are failing to fulfill their statutory obligations. Clubs and individuals owe us in excess of $280 000 as they have not been remitting the 15 percent fee for every transfer that takes place in football,” he said.
Mashingaidze said they were waiting for the finance committee to advise the secretariat on what course of action to take against defaulters.
“We are in serious debt and we just have to recover all the money we are owed if we are to survive as an association. There is no excuse for not remitting these funds and we are left with no option but to take corrective measures.
“With the advent of the transfer matching system, it has become easy for Zifa to monitor those that have in the past developed a culture of non-compliance. Whenever players move, through the transfer matching system, the clubs are required to state the length of the contract as well as the financial details of the transfer,” he said.
A number of Zimbabwean players made moves to South Africa and abroad after the introduction of the computerised transfer matching system last year.
Bantu Rovers reportedly sold national Under-20 midfielder Marvelous Nakamba for $700 000 to France’s AS Nancy and were supposed to pay Zifa $105 000 as transfer commission.
Zifa among other moves is set to make a killing from the transfers of Archieford Gutu who found a base in Sweden, Takesure Chinyama who signed for Orlando Pirates and Washington Arubi who joined South African Premiership club AmaTuks.
Bantu Rovers’ spokesman Wilbert Sibanda said Nakamba’s deal was done above board.
“I cannot comment on the contents of the contract we had with AS Nancy but what I can tell you is that everything was done above board.
“We got the clearance from Zifa after submitting all the relevant paperwork and unfortunately I cannot comment on behalf of Zifa on whether they got their percentage or not. Please call Zifa and find out,” said Sibanda.
Mashingaidze could not be drawn to name teams that are yet to remit the 15 percent transfer commission.
“As it is, the guys are busy in the office reconciling documents and they will supply those documents to the Zifa finance committee.
“At the moment I am not in the office but once I get there I will let you know.
“We have the figure of the amount of money that is supposed to be paid to the association for all the international transfers we issued last year,” he said.
Online Reporter