THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has expressed satisfaction with its ongoing engagement efforts with the diaspora community, particularly in the United Kingdom, under the ambitious Roots and Dreams initiative.
ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi, Warriors head coach Michael Nees, and Diaspora Engagement Committee Chairperson Marshall Gore have been in Birmingham and London, meeting stakeholders and sharing their vision for Zimbabwean football.
“We have had a wonderful time meeting with various stakeholders, so let me clarify, we started the stakeholders’ engagements in Zimbabwe and we went round the country sharing our vision and also getting input, so this is the same thing we are doing.
We have a very huge community in England and we have been speaking to them and they are very enthusiastic to help in one way or the other.
Zimbabwe is for every Zimbabwean living anywhere and there are opportunities to administer, coach, manage play, referee every aspect of football so this is what we are here for,” Magwizi said.
Magwizi also confirmed they had separate engagements with professional players with head coach Micheal Nees leading the process while Warriors captains Marvelous Nakamba and Marshal Munetsi were also involved.
“That process was led by the coach, remember Nees has been here for some time watching players and speaking to those that he feels can be part of the system and he has already spoken to Shumirai Zion Mheuka and Tivonge Rushesha among others and this is the same thing that he was doing when he was in Zimbabwe, he would go around watching matches all over the country and the players that would have been identified will be called for the June camp in Morocco,” he said.
17-year-old Mheuka plays for English Premier League side Chelsea while 22-year-old Rushesha who has represented Wales at the youth level players for League One side Reading.
The Zimbabwe Embassy in England also confirmed they stand ready to assist any player willing to represent the country to have documents.
With England done, the next stop for the engagements is South Africa with ZIFA looking to meet stakeholders in the neighbouring country which has Zimbabwe’s largest Diaspora community to share ideas and find ways to contribute to the development of the beautiful game.
Magwizi also confirmed that the immediate plan is to build a strong squad for the Africa Cup of Nations slated for December, with more efforts set to be put into grassroots development.
Warriors players like Jordan Zemura, Tawanda Chirewa, Tendai Darikwa, Tawanda Maswanhise and Marley Tavaziva are a result of such diaspora engagements.
