ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi has called for a major rethink of football financing in Zimbabwe.
He believes the country must stop focusing almost entirely on the next international fixture.
Instead, Magwizi wants more resources directed towards building a sustainable football system.
He says the current model leaves little money for developing the next generation of players.
Magwizi warns against funding football one match at a time
According to Magwizi, Zimbabwe football faces a constant struggle between immediate needs and long-term development.
National teams require substantial funding whenever they compete internationally.
Those costs include flights, accommodation, meals, transport, medical care and match preparations.
However, meeting those demands can leave development programmes without sufficient funding.
“Zimbabwean football, in many ways, faces the same challenge. For years, our football ecosystem has operated with resources that are well below what is required to sustain it properly,” he said.
Magwizi compared the situation to families that spend everything on immediate needs.
Such families often have nothing left to invest in their future.
He believes football faces a similar problem when resources are consumed by each upcoming match.
“When the match arrives, the match has to be played. And that is where the tension begins. The same money needed to keep today’s football alive is often the money we desperately need to build tomorrow’s football,” he said.
He also highlighted the lengthy process required to develop young players.
“A talented 14-year-old identified today may need six, seven or eight years of structured coaching, proper competition, nutrition, sports science and careful development before becoming a senior international,” Magwizi said.
Therefore, he wants youth development to receive consistent and protected funding.
ZIFA president wants broader investment in football
Magwizi warned that underinvestment could eventually affect Zimbabwe’s national teams.
He said weaker development structures could reduce the number of technically prepared players.
That could then affect results and the wider commercial value of Zimbabwean football.
“That affects the competitiveness of our national teams. Poor results, in turn, can weaken commercial appeal and public confidence. Reduced commercial income then leaves fewer resources to invest in development. And the cycle begins again,” he said.
Magwizi also challenged stakeholders to consider how Zimbabwe’s football ambitions will be financed.
“We want better coaches, stronger leagues, better referees and national teams capable of standing toe to toe with Africa’s best. Those expectations are legitimate. But there is another question we have to be willing to confront: who pays for the football ecosystem we collectively say we want? Excellence has a cost,” he said.
He said ZIFA must also improve its own financial and administrative systems.
“ZIFA has a responsibility to continuously improve governance, strengthen financial discipline, grow commercial revenues and make Zimbabwean football more attractive to investment,” Magwizi said.
However, he stressed that ZIFA cannot carry the responsibility alone.
Government, FIFA, CAF, businesses, broadcasters, clubs and supporters all have roles to play.
“If we want a strong and sustainable football industry, financing it has to become a shared national conversation. We cannot demand a better product indefinitely without also asking how that product is going to be built and paid for,” he said.
Magwizi wants Zimbabwe to move from “a culture of consumption to a culture of investment”.
“Development cannot continue to live on leftovers,” he said.
He also pointed to grassroots football, women’s football, refereeing and infrastructure as areas needing sustained investment.
“A junior national team cannot forever depend on whatever happens to be left after the immediate needs of the senior team have been met,” he said.
Magwizi also raised the possibility of alternative funding mechanisms.
These could include sponsorships, broadcasting revenue, gate receipts and development funding.
He said Zimbabwe could eventually consider other approaches where necessary.
“Zimbabwe may eventually need to explore innovative and sustainable funding mechanisms — even, for example, a modest and properly structured football development levy, provided that such resources are transparently managed and dedicated specifically to long-term football development,” he said.
For Magwizi, the bigger challenge is balancing present demands with future ambitions.
“We have to find a way of meeting the needs of today without permanently mortgaging the future,” Magwizi said.
He said the Warriors still deserve strong support whenever they represent Zimbabwe.
“When they walk onto the pitch carrying our flag, they deserve every reasonable opportunity to succeed,” he said.
“But while doing that, we must never forget the footballer we have not yet met.”
Magwizi believes Zimbabwe must create clear pathways for talented youngsters.
“Our football system has to become good enough to find that child, strong enough to develop that talent and sustainable enough to give that young player a genuine pathway from the school ground to the national team,” Magwizi said.
“If every resource we have is consumed by the next fixture, that child may never be discovered.”
He believes Zimbabwe already has the talent and passion needed to build a stronger football system.
“What we need now is a sustainable football economy capable of turning that talent, passion and expectation into consistent performance. That will not happen through hope alone. It will take better structures, stronger partnerships, smarter investment and a national willingness to think beyond the next 90 minutes,” he said.
Magwizi ultimately wants every major stakeholder to contribute to that transformation.
“If we truly want to break the cycle of football poverty, then all of us, administrators, Government, business, clubs, supporters and partners must move from simply expecting success to investing in its creation,” Magwizi said.
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