Dube leads Zifa delegation to Brazil

By Sikhumbuzo Moyo

As the football family is still mourning and trying to come to terms with the National Sports Stadium disaster of Sunday, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube and his delegation will fly out of the country over the weekend to attend the opening ceremony of the Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

The delegation will also be part of the 64th Fifa Congress on June 11 whose agenda has 19 items.

It is believed that Dube, who was conspicuous by his absence at the giant National Sports Stadium as the Warriors embarrassed the nation with a 2-2 draw against Tanzania that saw them being booted out of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup qualifying campaign, will be accompanied by his deputy, Omega Sibanda, chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze and another board member.

“Yes, the president will be leading a delegation to the 64th Fifa Congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Departure is over the weekend,” said Mashingaidze.

He said the world soccer body pays for all the expenses and therefore the bankrupt Zifa will not lose a dime.

In his statement to the 209 member associations, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said he was pleased to see the football family return to Brazil.

“As usual, this year’s agenda includes a full update on the work we have carried out in accordance with the decisions you took and the mandates you granted us at our last gathering in Mauritius.

“You will be invited to take further important decisions in Brazil, in particular regarding the conclusion of the reform process launched by the 2011 Congress. Having completed this chapter of reforms and raised our governance to the high standards we have set for ourselves, it will then be up to the confederations and the member associations to follow our example, thus ensuring that the interests of the game we love are duly served at every level,” read Blatter’s statement.

He said he was confident that they will emerge from the congress as a stronger unit, one that is capable of implementing further positive change.

“To do so, it is important for us to connect and work closely together as the guardians of the game. Only then will we be able to harness the power of football to have a positive impact, everywhere,” he said.

Despite the issues on the agenda of the congress, delegates are also likely to have sideline discussions on their choice of candidates for the Fifa presidency during next year’s elections.

Zifa has already made clear their intentions of re-electing the incumbent, Blatter, whose office is facing a revolt from Uefa that is led by Michel Platini.

There are allegations that as many as 30 African associations received money in 2011 ahead of Fifa elections to vote certain officials and members of regional bodies back into office. Chronicle