adminFifa availed the multi-purpose central data processing system in December and Zifa have since appointed Timothy Mandizha to the position of Transfer Matching System manager.
In a telephone interview from his Harare base yesterday, the Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said all the stakeholders have been briefed about the use of the gadget, which was bought for $80 000.
The device, according to Mashingaidze, will also help in detecting irregular player registrations and transfers as all Zifa affiliates from provinces, regions and the Premiership will be required to enter their players’ data into the football mother body system.
“Many countries worldwide are using the Transfer Matching System to monitor player movements as well as registration. We have appointed a full-time manager and we hope to get favourable response from all stakeholders as they have been notified about the change in the registration system.
“This development also means that licences for all affiliates, that is PSL, the four regions for Division One Soccer League, Division Two down to junior football, will be produced by Zifa. We want to address the problem of irregular transfers,” said Mashingaidze.
Already, the issues of irregular player transfer that rocked Central Soccer League last season have seen Hardbody and Tripple B embroiled in a bitter promotional battle.
Their matter has since been referred to the Commercial Arbitration Centre and the verdict is expected before the end of the week.
Mashingaidze, however, conceded that centralising registration as well as producing licences will be time-consuming.
“I think since we will be doing it for the first time, it will be slow but what we have said or what we will do is to first deal with the PSL and the four regions before expanding to other levels. In the event that licences will have delayed, we are going to issue temporary licences for use while working on documentation,” said Mashingaidze.
The device will also be used to collect players’ and clubs’ statistics.
The multi-purpose central data processing system is also expected to help in combating age-cheating.
Issues of age-cheating have been rampant in Zimbabwean soccer especially at junior levels and that, according to some sectors, has contributed to underdevelopment of local football.
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 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 alter their ages later on, 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.
Online Reporter