ZIFA vice-president Kenny Ndebele says enforcing club licensing in the country’s four divisional leagues is one of their priorities this year. The local football motherbody has been making serious efforts to uplift the country’s game.
Most recently they has achieved a major coup, partnering with FIFA and the International Centre for Sports Studies to host an international management programme in Zimbabwe.
This makes them the first football association to partner with FIFA for the CIES programme in Africa. Zimbabwe is also only the fourth African country to host the programme, after Egypt, Senegal, and South Africa. The partnership involves Midlands State University and marks a significant milestone for Zimbabwean sports.
The Nqobile Magwizi led association and BancABC also launched a US$200,000 grassroots football programme, featuring Under-14 and Under-16 leagues for boys and girls across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.
WHAT KENNY NDEBELE SAID
While progress has been made in some areas, club licensing in the first division is lagging, the ZIFA vice-president Ndebele was first to admit. Ndebele told club officials to start preparing for club licensing compliance during the Central Region Soccer League induction.
The workshop held in Gweru on Sunday gathered the 18 teams in the league to strengthen standards and professionalise the game, with discussions centred on governance, infrastructure, finance, youth development, and safeguarding for a future-ready football system.
“Club licensing is the foundation upon which sustainable football is built anywhere in the world. It allows us to safeguard our clubs, and ensure that players operate in environments that are well organised, safe, and professional. This workshop is a chance for all of us to understand what is required and to commit to working together to uplift Zimbabwean football,” Ndebele said.
“This is not intended to exclude but to elevate ourselves in football. When our clubs are properly structured, the benefits flow. We want Zimbabwean clubs to be competitive in the region and on the continent, and that starts with strong internal systems. It starts with our teams in these lower division.”
