The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has called for stronger collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to ensure the smooth movement and welfare of national teams competing outside the country.
ZIFA president, Nqobile Magwizi, made the call, yesterday, when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, at the Munhumutapa Offices, where he expressed appreciation for the support provided by Zimbabwean diplomatic missions to national teams and athletes.
“We are grateful at ZIFA, and this visit really was a courtesy visit just to express our gratitude and our desire to see the same culture and practice being perpetuated going into the future.
“The support provided by Zimbabwe’s diplomatic missions had demonstrated the importance of close coordination between sporting authorities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly as the country prepares for an increasingly busy international football calendar,” Magwizi added.
Magwizi cited the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco as one of the occasions when Zimbabwe’s diplomatic mission played an important role in supporting the national delegation.
“We have seen the same support in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United States, where our ambassadors and embassy staff have been there to receive our teams and make sure that they are well taken care of,” he said.
He said ZIFA wanted the cooperation to continue and become more structured as Zimbabwean teams increasingly participate in international competitions.
“We believe this partnership is going to be very important because we have a very busy calendar ahead of us, and we want to make sure that wherever our teams go, there is proper coordination and their welfare is taken care of,” Magwizi said.
He said the Under-15 national team’s participation in the Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan in October was among the forthcoming assignments requiring close cooperation between ZIFA and the Ministry.
“ZIFA would continue engaging the ministry to ensure Zimbabwean teams were adequately supported while abroad,” Magwizi said.
The collaboration highlights the role of football in enhancing Zimbabwe’s international image, with sporting delegations providing an opportunity to promote the country’s identity and values while strengthening its diplomatic presence abroad.
