adminThe gadget worth $80 000 is expected to arrive in Harare at the weekend.
Issues of age cheating have been rampant in Zimbabwean soccer especially at junior levels and that, according to some sectors, has contributed to under-development of local football.
Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze, was hopeful that if properly used, the device would help curb age cheating.
“There are growing concerns over most of our players who have been fingered in matters of age cheating in the past. Age cheating allegations or scandals taint the image of our game and at the end of the day it’s the players who suffer when they want to move.
“Fifa gave us a multi-purpose equipment to capture players’ data right from the juniors. What happens is that this device will help us store players’ information from Under-13s, 15 and 17. Whenever a player is called for junior provincial tournaments their details will be recorded and should they decide to altar their ages later on, then we will pounce on them because we will be having their original details. It’s like we will be keeping a player’s portfolio until they graduate for senior competition and with that information with us, it won’t be tampered with,” said Mashingaidze.
The device will also help in dictating irregular player registrations and transfers as all Zifa affiliates — provinces, regions and the Premiership — will be required to enter their players’ data into the football mother body system.
Already, the issue of irregular player transfer that rocked Central Soccer League has seen Hardbody being docked 42 points for using a player who was allegedly clandestinely registered.
The Gweru side has since appealed against that decision and tomorrow their matter will be heard before a Zifa appeals committee.
The saga has made it impossible for Tripple B to be confirmed winners of the Central Soccer League.
The device will also be used to collect players and clubs statistics.
derick.khumalo