Tension over Fifa Covid-19 funds

ZIFA president Felton Kamambo is expected in Mutare on August 8 to iron out disgruntlements over the disbursement of the Covid-19 bailout package.

Tensions continue to simmer over the distribution of the US$1,8 million Fifa package.

The four regions were each allotted $1, 6 million in local currency. The funds are going towards covering administration costs and taking care of the players’ welfare.

Eastern Region Division One clubs are supposed to get $85 000 each, an amount that is almost equal to a month’s budget for a club like Mutare City Rovers.

Even though the money is yet to be deposited into the association’s account, Zifa has already unveiled a budget in which they have started disbursing the funds from the world football governing body in local currency.

The association has already paid the women’s top clubs and the regional affiliates.

Fifa expects to deposit the funds today (July 31).

Early last week, the Zifa Eastern Region held a meeting and resolved to press Zifa to give them their share of the Covid-19 funds in US dollars.

Zifa Eastern Region chairperson, Davison Muchena confirmed that clubs expressed reservations over the disbursement budget as well as the currency to be used.

“We had a meeting about the relief fund. This was the main topic of the day. We wanted to talk to chairpersons of the teams about what we got from the mother body and discuss the modus operandi on distribution, who is entitled to what and who is not.

“It will be unwise to pay relief funds to teams that have not paid a penny towards their affiliation because such teams might have disbanded,” he said.

“This meeting before disbursement was crucial. So we listened and took note of all their concerns. They asked the board to take their concerns to the national association,” explained Muchena.

The Zifa Eastern Region leader also confirmed that a meeting between Kamambo and his national executive has been pencilled for August 1.

“We were informed that the meeting had been pencilled for last Friday. However, it was postponed to this Saturday,” said Muchena.

Speaking to our sister paper Kamambo said the association is aware of the issues raised by the Zifa Eastern region.

“We always receive Fifa funds in United States dollars. We have been converting those funds to local currency using the prevailing rate. Now that our affiliate has made a recommendation, we have to look into it,’’ he said.

“The Covid-19 money is not yet in our account so we have room to make a decision on how we are going to disburse it.

“The board needs to sit down and come up with a decision,” said Kamambo.

In a circular, Fifa outlined how the Covid19 relief funds can be utilised.

Fifa has already approved two of the eight project applications tendered by Zifa under the Fifa Forward Programme.