ZIFA challenged to work with corporates
Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has been urged to foster strong relationships with the business community to ensure the national teams have sufficient funding.
At the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Women’s Championship, after an 18-month suspension from international football, the Zimbabwe Senior women’s football team, the Mighty Warriors, performed well and finished fourth.
Zimbabwe’s Embassy in South Africa and corporates based in the neighbouring country hosted a dinner in honour of the Mighty Warriors, which was attended by COSAFA President Artur de Almeida e Silva, Malawi Football Association President Walter Nyamilandu, former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu, and Zimbabwean business leaders based in South Africa.
Zororo-Phumulani, one of the corporates who helped organise the dinner, has consistently supported Zimbabwean sports, from football and netball to boxing.
“To be where we are, we have been supported by the thousands of Zimbabweans based here in South Africa, and as a way of saying thank you, we are supporting the areas they love because sport is a unifier and touches the hearts of everyone,” said Zororo-Phumulani representative Brian Makunike.
Zimbabwe’s top diplomat to South Africa, Ambassador David Hamadziripi, challenged ZIFA to work in partnership with the corporate world.
“What you see here today is a partnership between the Embassy and the businesspeople here in South Africa. If you work well with them and deliver as promised, I am sure they can support the national teams because they also love football, but ZIFA has to play its part first,” he said.
Legendary former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu urged the Mighty Warriors to harness the power of sport. “Your performances made us proud. You guys are the ambassadors. Sport is business, and if you do it well, it will take care of you. I am an example; I am living off sports, even the opportunities I get these days, it’s because of what I did on the pitch, so take it seriously as your profession, and it will take care of you,” he said.
The Mighty Warriors appreciated the honour of representing their country to the best of their ability.
Mighty Warriors captain Rudo Neshamba said, “As a team, we are happy. They have really shown us that we matter, and this pushes us to want to do better and to achieve more. Sport with support is better.”
Zimbabwe finished fourth in the tournament, which was won by Malawi after dethroning Zambia.
The Mighty Warriors have since returned home and touched down at the Robert Mugabe International Airport on Monday morning.
