The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) last Wednesday opened its doors to the media fraternity in a landmark engagement session held at the ZIFA Village in Mt Hampden, Harare. The event granted sports journalists a rare opportunity to interact directly with the Association’s new leadership and gain insight into the reforms shaping the future of Zimbabwean football.
By Dickson Bandera
Since independence, football — the most passionately followed sport in Zimbabwe — has been more than just a game. It is a culture, a symbol of unity, and a launchpad for young dreams. Through football, careers have been shaped, industries born, and memories etched. Its influence extends beyond the pitch, impacting various professions and livelihoods across the entire sporting value chain.
The media, on the other hand, is an indispensable partner in sport, acting as a vital bridge that connects fans, corporate stakeholders, and athletes. It amplifies the visibility of sporting activities, shapes public perception, drives fan engagement, and creates commercial value. Through coverage, analysis and storytelling, the media not only informs but also builds the emotional connection that sustains the entire sporting ecosystem.
It is this recognition of the media’s central role in strengthening the sports ecosystem that inspired the convening of the meeting. Organised in partnership with the Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe (SWAZ), the engagement served as a crucial bridge-building initiative between ZIFA’s new administration — led by President Nqobile Magwizi — and the country’s sports media.
The new ZIFA executive, ushered in last year, has been tasked with steering Zimbabwean football out of a troubled era marked by international suspensions, administrative instability and years of stagnation. Expectations are high for the leadership to restore order, credibility and strategic focus across the country’s football structures.
The engagement with the media focused on fostering transparency, strengthening media relations, and building mutual understanding as ZIFA repositions itself for growth, professionalism, and international reintegration.
ZIFA Executive Committee Member and Chairperson of the Marketing Committee, Ms. Kudzai Kadzombe, led the delegation. She was accompanied by the Head of Technical, Mr. Dominique Niyozima; Head of Commercial, Mr. Mark Ruck; and former top referee, Mr. Norman Matemera.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Kadzombe emphasised the Association’s commitment to rebuilding trust through open and consistent dialogue with stakeholders, including the media.
“We are ushering in a new era at ZIFA — one anchored on accountability, inclusion and collaboration. The media play a crucial role in telling the story of our football, and engagements like this help us align our vision with the public’s expectations,” she said.
She explained that ZIFA’s transformation is guided by a five-pillar roadmap focusing on governance reform, technical development, women’s football, commercialisation, and stakeholder engagement.
“Our mandate is to rebuild football from the ground up — from grassroots structures to national teams — and that requires every stakeholder’s involvement. The media are not outsiders; they are partners in this transformation journey,” she added.
“We are all custodians of the same game. ZIFA’s success depends on transparency, dialogue and collective effort. When administrators and journalists work together with integrity, Zimbabwean football will thrive again.”
Taking journalists through the technical direction of Zimbabwean football, Mr. Dominique Niyozima elaborated on coaching development programmes, youth identification structures, and long-term talent pathways. Seconded by CAF to assist Zimbabwe in grooming technical directors, Mr. Niyozima is currently assessing football structures across provinces and has crafted a long-term, holistic development plan for the nation’s game. He urged journalists to report responsibly and engage constructively on technical matters that influence football’s development ecosystem.
ZIFA Head of Commercial, Mr. Mark Ruck, highlighted plans to rebuild the organisation’s commercial value and attract sustainable investment.
“We are moving towards a business-oriented football model that attracts investment, builds trust, and creates value for all stakeholders. The media can amplify that vision through positive, balanced storytelling,” he said.
Former referee Mr. Norman Matemera delivered an enlightening session on the laws of the game. Although he did not cover all 17 laws, he unpacked key areas on referees’ interpretation and decision-making during matches. Using practical case studies, he demonstrated how certain decisions are made, giving journalists deeper insight into officiating dynamics.
Journalists in attendance commended ZIFA for adopting an open-door approach, noting that such engagements enhance understanding and bolster confidence in the new leadership’s direction. SWAZ representatives reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with ZIFA to promote responsible, professional football journalism that supports the growth of the sport.
The session concluded with both ZIFA and the sports media pledging continued collaboration, information-sharing and capacity-building workshops to strengthen relations and advance the development of Zimbabwean football. Building on the success of this meeting, a follow-up engagement is scheduled for the Southern Region in Bulawayo, where stakeholders will further deepen collaboration and refine strategies to enhance sports communication and development.
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