For years, people blamed the Zimbabwe Football Association for not turning soccer into a huge money-making business. Around the world, soccer has become a billion-dollar industry that makes players rich and changes lives for coaches, officials, and communities where teams play. Zimbabwe has fallen behind because ZIFA leaders never created plans to match how other countries make money from the sport.
ZIFA last made a real plan back in 2014, which seems hard to believe. The group just drifted along with no direction and became known for begging the government and businesses for money at the last minute. Things started to change when FIFA stepped in and appointed the Normalisation Committee, led by Lincoln Mutasa, to run things for over a year.
The new leaders who took office on January 25 show real promise to build on what Mutasa and his team started. ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi keeps making business deals and announcing new ideas to help soccer grow almost every other week. He wants to tap into all the money that soccer can bring to Zimbabwe.
Magwizi broke with the past by asking regular Zimbabweans to help create brands for national teams, starting with the main squad called the Warriors. This year marks the sixth time the Warriors will play in the Africa Cup of Nations, and ZIFA wants them to wear uniforms designed by Zimbabweans that tell a story about their beautiful country.
These are exciting times for local soccer when citizens can take pride in creating what their national teams wear. For six weeks, creative Zimbabweans will compete to design the uniforms that the Warriors will wear at the AFCON tournament in Morocco from late December to early January. ZIFA announced this challenge yesterday in Harare.
The contest offers $3,000 in cash plus a free trip to watch the Warriors play Egypt in their first AFCON match. ZIFA realized they could make more money selling copies made by local people instead of paying huge bills to import uniforms. Their neighbors in Zambia already did this and earned good money after years of using brands like Puma, Adidas, Joma, and Nike.
Big global brands still lead the market, but ZIFA deserves praise for wanting locally designed styles. Uganda Football Association succeeded with their Cranes uniforms, showing that smart marketing and fair prices work well in countries where fans love their national team. This approach saves millions of dollars compared to importing uniforms and gives the Warriors a unique look whenever they play.
Beyond the FIFA grant money they receive, ZIFA needs more ways to keep soccer growing at all levels - from small areas to districts, provinces, regions, schools, and colleges. Magwizi called it a groundbreaking campaign that puts creative power into Zimbabwean hands, letting designers, artists, and fans shape the future look of national soccer teams.
The competition invites people to create designs that show the spirit, toughness, and unity of Zimbabwe through soccer. It aims to involve the whole nation in creating team brands, encourage creativity from designers and fans, and display national pride through unique designs. More than just a contest, it tries to bring all Zimbabweans behind the national teams.
ZIFA created hashtags like #WarriorPride and #ZimKitChallenge to turn the idea into a big national movement that unites people through design and soccer. These legacy projects deserve support and chances to succeed. ZIFA should judge entries fairly and set an example that might inspire other sports like rugby, cricket, athletics, and netball to follow the same path.
Perhaps ZIFA has finally changed direction for real. We can watch with excitement as they work to make money from the sport in new ways.
ZIFA last made a real plan back in 2014, which seems hard to believe. The group just drifted along with no direction and became known for begging the government and businesses for money at the last minute. Things started to change when FIFA stepped in and appointed the Normalisation Committee, led by Lincoln Mutasa, to run things for over a year.
The new leaders who took office on January 25 show real promise to build on what Mutasa and his team started. ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi keeps making business deals and announcing new ideas to help soccer grow almost every other week. He wants to tap into all the money that soccer can bring to Zimbabwe.
Magwizi broke with the past by asking regular Zimbabweans to help create brands for national teams, starting with the main squad called the Warriors. This year marks the sixth time the Warriors will play in the Africa Cup of Nations, and ZIFA wants them to wear uniforms designed by Zimbabweans that tell a story about their beautiful country.
These are exciting times for local soccer when citizens can take pride in creating what their national teams wear. For six weeks, creative Zimbabweans will compete to design the uniforms that the Warriors will wear at the AFCON tournament in Morocco from late December to early January. ZIFA announced this challenge yesterday in Harare.
The contest offers $3,000 in cash plus a free trip to watch the Warriors play Egypt in their first AFCON match. ZIFA realized they could make more money selling copies made by local people instead of paying huge bills to import uniforms. Their neighbors in Zambia already did this and earned good money after years of using brands like Puma, Adidas, Joma, and Nike.
Big global brands still lead the market, but ZIFA deserves praise for wanting locally designed styles. Uganda Football Association succeeded with their Cranes uniforms, showing that smart marketing and fair prices work well in countries where fans love their national team. This approach saves millions of dollars compared to importing uniforms and gives the Warriors a unique look whenever they play.
Beyond the FIFA grant money they receive, ZIFA needs more ways to keep soccer growing at all levels - from small areas to districts, provinces, regions, schools, and colleges. Magwizi called it a groundbreaking campaign that puts creative power into Zimbabwean hands, letting designers, artists, and fans shape the future look of national soccer teams.
The competition invites people to create designs that show the spirit, toughness, and unity of Zimbabwe through soccer. It aims to involve the whole nation in creating team brands, encourage creativity from designers and fans, and display national pride through unique designs. More than just a contest, it tries to bring all Zimbabweans behind the national teams.
ZIFA created hashtags like #WarriorPride and #ZimKitChallenge to turn the idea into a big national movement that unites people through design and soccer. These legacy projects deserve support and chances to succeed. ZIFA should judge entries fairly and set an example that might inspire other sports like rugby, cricket, athletics, and netball to follow the same path.
Perhaps ZIFA has finally changed direction for real. We can watch with excitement as they work to make money from the sport in new ways.
