For the love of the game

APART from being the most loved game, not only in this country, but the greater part of the planet, football is one of the most thriving industries of our generation, employing millions in different capacities, while providing sport entertainment to billions.

Be that as it may, its management has been a subject of intense debate in many circles.

In Africa and Zimbabwe in particular, a lot of negative criticism over the years has focused on those in the corridors of football management at club, top-flight league and national level.

This week, The Manica Post Senior Reporter, Ray Paidamoyo Bande (RB) engaged Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) Eastern Region chairman, Davison Muchena (DM) on issues bedeviling the development of the game in the country and in the region.

***

RB: What is you take on the progress made by the Felton Kamambo-led administration, which you are part of, in the development of the game in Zimbabwe?

DM: The Kamambo-led administration has done wonders in the short period that it has been in power.

This is an administration that is trying to make a difference, not just by following their predecessors, but changing the platform altogether.

It needs a great football mind to see that, so my plea is to give them time and judge them later.

The administration has managed to put junior football structures in record time. Had it not be for the Covid-19 pandemic, Zimbabwe football would have turned the corner.

Junior football is the life blood of any football association and many administrations have failed to give life to this important part of the game.

RB: We now have three PSL teams from the province, that is Manica Diamonds, Triangle FC and Tenax FC. ls this enough for the region, is there room for improvement?

DM: Some thinks Yadah can also be added as they were promoted from the Eastern Region, even though the club is based in Harare.

The number is still not enough as most of our teams are promoted and demoted in the same year, which is not good for the region.

If we manage to maintain at least six teams in the Premier League, the Eastern Region would have turned the corner.

RB: Zifa will soon be receiving funds from Fifa to cover the Covid-19 challenges. ln you view, what is this money supposed to be used for?

DM: I do not know if this is the position now, but from where l stand, Zifa has applied for assistance from the mother association so that we may be assisted financially during this Covid-19 crisis, so that we may cope with our expenses and be move forward with speed once the situation normalises.

The funds should be able to assist our teams with player remuneration expenses, team administration expenditures and other related costs that teams and associations undertake in running things while no games are being played. Teams do not have to go under as a result of this pandemic.

RB: What is your take on the player-club relationship in terms of payment of salaries and allowances during this lengthy lockdown period?

Davison Muchena

DM: The relationship of players and teams are governed by the contracts they signed. Football is business and players are at work. However, under these circumstances where football is not being played as a result of the pandemic, discussions may need to be held by both players and their employees to find a way forward, which is why Zifa approached Fifa for some relief funding to take care for these expenses when football is not being played while the contracts have to be fulfilled.

RB: Have you received any complaints from players or player representatives on issues relating to payments during this lockdown period?

DM: So far so good. I have not received any complaints so far from players over non-payment of salaries by the teams. My opinion is that even the players can see the challenges being faced by their teams, so l guess they have resorted to negotiations

RB: Lower leagues from Division Two have been dissected from provincial to district based leagues. ls this in the interest of football development?

DM: True. This is the case in the region. Why? The provinces have proved to be too big for only 16 or 18 teams. As a result, the provinces have dissected them into three of four districts for the following reasons - to make sure that they touch every corner of the province and include everyone who wants to take part in our motto – Football to the people. It is also for economic reasons. At times there is no reason why a team has to travel all corners of the province at this level. Times are hard and the lesser they travel at this level the better.

RB: Clubs in the region have usually cried foul each time they lose players to clubs elsewhere without proper payment of services given to the development of the players. What is your take on this issue?

DM: The first thing that l did when l was elected was to make sure that the Eastern Region teams register their players on the Zifa Connect. Once a player is registered, noone can take them just like that. As a result, all our players are secure. It now depends on how each team does business with the world because the teams hold the keys to their players’ clearances.

RB: Is the Zifa Eastern region active on social media platforms?

DM: Indeed we are. For you own information, Zifa Eastern Region was the first region to open a website in 2014.

RB: The issue of affiliation fees has been a thorny issue. How is it affecting the coming on board of teams in marginalised areas?

DM: True. The issue of affiliation has hindered the development of football as sponsorship is hard to come by these days. Eastern Region is hard hit in terms of that.

Unlike other regions like the Northern and Southern, there are very few industries in Masvingo, Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces. This has been a thorn in our quest to get sponsors. Imagine when we look for a sponsor we cross over to another region. It is difficult.

However, having said that, the Eastern Region Soccer League has all weather friends like the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC). The company continues to lift our flag high every year with the Diamond Super Cup.

I would like to thank ZCDC for standing by us every year in our endeavour to succeed in football development.

RB: Apart from just inspecting, what is Zifa doing to ensure that our stadia are upgraded across the region apart?

DM: As Eastern Region, we do a bit more than inspection.

First, we inspect the stadia to find the gaps between the situation on the ground and the minimum requirements as per Fifa Club licensing requirements. We then engage the sponsors for assistance. We help develop players as well as administrators and sponsors.

For example, if you go to Green Fuels and Bikita Minerals, you will be impressed. We normally guide our teams and help them get to the level we want, a level that is acceptable the world over.

RB: Lastly, what is your take on the issue of our football season calendar given the delay in the start of the season owing to the Covid-19 lockdown?

DM: I foresee the PSL and all of us starting our season in August and following the European leagues.

However, we will also have huge problems from our dilapidated stadia during the rainy season as we do not have stadia with good drainage systems here.

A lot of abandonments may be witnessed and these will be costly to the teams and supporters, but this will be the new normal.