The Sunday News
Sports Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Football Association will next year descend heavily on Premier Soccer League clubs that do not meet club licensing regulations. Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said the association will work with the PSL to ensure clubs met the minimum set standards on club licensing. To that effect the Zifa CEO said they will kick off with a workshop in February to ensure all clubs were aware of their obligations although they (clubs) were already in possession of information relating to the regulations.
“The seminar will be more of a refresher course as we remind clubs of their obligations. It will be an opportunity for us to clear any issues club might not understand.
“We will have an expert from Caf in attendance while PSL chief executive officer, Kennedy Ndebele would also be another resource person,” said Mashingaidze.
Mashingaidze said Caf officials will be in the country in January to inspect facilities to be used by the clubs that will be taking part in continental competitions.
Chicken Inn and Harare City will participate in the Caf Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively. The Caf officials will also check on the clubs’ compliance with the Fifa Club Licensing regulations.
Mashingaidze said it was mandatory for teams taking part in Caf Club competitions to meet the minimum regulations.
Mashingaidze said the regulations will assist clubs in putting up proper structures, maintaining a viable junior development policy while ensuring administration and board roles were distinguishable.
“These regulations were embraced by European football clubs more than 20 years ago and they established positive growth hence I believe it is something we should not be afraid of but we should welcome because it will have an impact on the success of the clubs,” he said.
A club licensing committee is expected to be put in place whose job would be to ensure clubs meet the standards with an appeals body also being created for those who might not be happy with the adjudication decision of the first body.
