ZIMBABWE”S football administration has become a regional reference point, with a delegation from the Kingdom of Eswatini Parliamentary Sports Committee in the country to benchmark how the local game is run.
This was revealed by Farai Jere, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, during an engagement with the visiting delegation this Friday.
Jere, who is also Murewa West legislator, said the Eswatini team approached the Parliament of Zimbabwe requesting to meet key stakeholders to understand Zimbabwe’s football structures.
“They came here two days back and they are leaving on Sunday. When they put their request, we put down the relevant stakeholders who would then take them through what they really wanted,” Jere said.
The delegation from the Sports Committee of the Parliament of Eswatini, is being led by Mtongwani Constituency MP, Noah Hlope.
The delegation also met the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture at the Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.
Parliamentarians from both countries exchanged notes, sharing best practices, collaborating on legislative oversight, governance frameworks, and football development.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) made presentations on how the country was running the world’s most popular game, which made the visitors applaud the football administration.
According to Jere, the visit was prompted by the growing reputation of the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
Jere cited the presence of Eswatini players at local clubs Scottland FC and Hard Rock, and the first intake of players from Botswana into the local league as indicators of progress.
“It was so touching. When you are at home, you don’t see the good things we are doing, but someone from afar, one can see that something good is happening in our football,” he said.
He also credited President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s support, including a US$25,000 sponsorship to the league, for improving funding and incentives.
“Our league is now well funded and those are some of the things which are attracting players from around the region, and the entire Africa, to come and play in our league,” Jere said.
Eswatini’s delegation leader Hlope said the visit was necessitated by Zimbabwe’s well recognised and great soccer management as well as growing influence in the region as well as the presence of his nation’s players in the local league.
“I want to thank the Committee chairperson and the Zimbabwe leadership for hosting us.
“Zimbabwe has been contributing a lot to Eswatini Football. We have not had players from Eswatini to Zimbabwe before but now we do.
“So, we are trying to see what is it that Zimbabwe is doing that we can learn from it. We also need team owners to come to Eswatini and own football teams,” Hlope said.
Zimbabwe’s Parly Sports committee will reciprocate the visit with a benchmarking trip to the Kingdom of Eswatini soon to learn how they maintain their football culture and other issues regarding the game.
