The footballers’ body which is on the verge of attaining full membership from the Federation of Professional Footballers (Fifpro) has made stunning achievements as Zimbabwe has been granted 50 voting rights in the process of voting for the Fifa, Fifpro World’s Best 11. What is now left is for the union to start getting grants from their mother association.
Zimbabwe is set to get full membership when the FUZ leadership travels to Tel Aviv, Israel next month. Zimbabwe was elevated from observers’ status to candidate membership 12 months ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
When the news that Zimbabwe had been granted voting rights before they are even granted full membership status filtered, many football administrators could not believe it because some of them had tried it before and failed.
The only man who has enjoyed voting rights at these highest levels is Charles Mabika who sits in the panel that selects the African Player of the Year.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
But this achievement did not come on a silver platter. The Fifpro executive has been monitoring Zimbabwean football from a distance.
The judgements are made by looking at how the national team of the country is performing, clubs that take part in the Champions League and the domestic league.
We have had a number of good outings for our national team beating football power houses like Mali which saw the Warriors improving on the Fifa world ranking from where other coaches had taken us to.
We have to thank our Champion’s League representatives Dynamos.
Despite bowing out in the early stages of the competition, DeMbare has for the past years played well in the competition, earning Zimbabwean football much respect.
So these are the results that come with hard work. For the first time in the history of Zimbabwean football, we had our players voting for the Fifa, Fifpro World’s Best 11 players.
But when FUZ was launched last year in the capital city, many football administrators thought it as a fluke. But if one looks back and sees what these guys have done so far, one would be convinced that they really mean business.
The committee consists of the president Desmond “Gaza” Maringwa, his vice Herbert Dick, treasurer More Moyo, secretary general Paul Gundani and committee member Nomsa “Boys” Moyo.
You will agree with me if I say most of you have seen the FUZ president Maringwa, secretary general Gundani, Moyo and Chiedza Gadzirayi, their financial administrator, working around the clock to make this dream come true.
The union managed to sell their brand and got US$60 000 sponsorship from the US Embassy which was channelled towards educating players on issues concerning HIV and Aids.
Each region had a chance to have a two-day workshop where players were taught about HIV and Aids issues.
As if this was not enough, FUZ has managed to settle a number of contractual issues between clubs and players.
They have represented their members in the courts of law. And finally, came the big one, they have worked hard to earn respect from their mother body, Fifpro and got voting rights.
Three players from each premiership club had a chance to vote for their world’s Best 11 players. The executive made arrangements for clubs out of Harare to vote from their bases, that is Bulawayo, Hwange and Zvishavane.
What I liked most is that some of the players were optimistic that one day it might happen that a Zimbabwean player would be among the Fifa, Fifpro World’s Best 11 player.
The results of the voting will be made known on January 9 2012.
For comments and feedback email [email protected] or call 0775 341 029
