Zifa “disbanded” the senior national soccer team in 2013 after The Warriors dismally failed to progress to the finals of the African Nations Cup, played in neighbouring South Africa and eventually won by Nigeria.
“Our football has suffered a silent death while our dormant ZIFA looks helpless,” said Ncube in an interview recently. “If you move around the country, you will be shocked to see that there are no more developmental initiatives targeting our youngsters for a better tomorrow. You hardly see any kids playing soccer on the street and this is as a result of lack of inspiration for youngsters by our lazy football administrators who have for years failed to convince the corporate world to invest in sports.”
Ncube also urged elected soccer administrators to consider their jobs seriously. “We have been reading about the corruption of those running our sports, while they do nothing to improve the game. Those who are not capable of building a better tomorrow for our sports would better leave and join business people in making money than turn our sport into their money-making schemes.
“Our administration should be a preserve of those with a good vision for this nation. Those who are not able of taking us forward should just tender in their resignations because we have better administrators out there,” added Ncube, who was recently forced to abandon his Lusumbami Football Academy in Hwange due to viability problems.
“A few years back I established the club to remove youngsters from the streets and give them better things to do than criminal activities and drugs because I had realised that such initiatives were necessary for development. But I have ceased operations because I was failing to move forward without sponsorship.
“There is a lot needed but at this stage I have reached a point where I cannot take anything from my own pocket for the sake of the community. I am struggling to make ends meet but if things change in the near future, I will re-open the academy. I feel pity for my talented boys who had potential to go far.”
Post published in: Football