Zimbabwe FA boss looks to farming
Zimbabwe FA chairman Cuthbert Dube
intends to push ahead with plans for the association to turn to farming to help
fund its operations.
Dube was re-elected at the weekend
and has asked government to give Zifa several farms around the country.
Zifa's debt grew to around US$6m in
Dube's first four-year term, and he is thinking outside the box for solutions.
"Maybe some people will ask if
I'm still alright in my head, but we are going to diversify into farming in a
very big way," said Dube.
"I've already started talking
to the responsible government ministry, as we've got the land reform
programme."
“We are going to do cattle ranching
and crop farming”
Cuthbert Dube Zimbabwe FA chairman
Dube saw off three contenders to
retain control of Zifa, but his victory has been unpopular with many football
fans.
Zimbabwe has had little success over
the past four years, with the exception of a fourth-place finish at this year's
African Nations Championship finals.
Zifa has struggled to fund the
national men's and women's teams, and has not been able to offer senior men's
coach Ian Gorowa a contract although he has been in the job for eight months.
With Zimbabwe's economy shrinking,
it is difficult for sports associations to find commercial sponsors, and Dube
feels that it is time to try something new.
"Let's not just depend on
sponsors - some of those sponsors are also sinking financially," he said.
"We are going to do cattle
ranching and crop farming, and there's no way you can fail."
Zimbabwe's government began a land
reform programme in 2000, with government taking ownership of most of the
country's white-owned farms and handing them over to black Zimbabweans on
long-term leases
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