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Valinhos

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
FIFA have handed Zimbabwe a lifeline after giving the national football association up to the end of this month to clear outstanding salary arrears owed to former coach, Brazilian Jose Claudinei Georgini if they are to entertain any hopes of taking part in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

The draw for the world showpiece will be held on July 25 in Russia and Zifa needs to clear the $81,000 arrears they owe to the Brazilian, popularly known as “Valinhos” in football circles.

In an interview on Tuesday moments after he met a Fifa delegation as well as members of the Zifa board, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa said an olive branch has been extended to the country following the announcement by Fifa.

“Fifa said we should pay the Valinhos debt by end of this month, failure of which we will kiss participation in the Fifa 2018 World Cup qualifiers goodbye. Zifa have not tabled a debt extinguishing strategy but as a ministry, we will definitely engage Treasury about that,” said Minister Langa.

He, however, expressed fears that once they clear Valinhos’ dues, other creditors like Tom Saintfiet will also start raising dust, further complicating Zimbabwe’s situation.

Fifa banned Zimbabwe from the 2018 World Cup in early March but Zifa have not paid a single dime towards the debt, despite getting close to $70,000 from their biggest affiliate, the Premier Soccer League.

Meanwhile, the three-man Fifa delegation has expressed grave concern over the state of Zimbabwe’s football, especially the huge and mounting debts.

The delegation, led by Fifa senior development manager for Africa Thierry Regenass, met Minister Langa and his senior staffers yesterday morning. The other members of the delegation were Fifa development officer for Central and Southern Africa, Ashford Mamelodi, as well as Fifa director of member associations, development division, Zelklifi Ngoufonga. Zifa was represented by the board, led by president Cuthbert Dube.

“The Fifa guys were very clear and expressed serious concerns about the state of football in the country. They said it was indeed in a bad state and also requested the government to liquidate the Zifa debt but obviously that is not a decision that can be made overnight, I will have to go through the normal procedures. At the moment I can not say that we will assist in that regard,” said Minister Langa.
Zifa’s debt is estimated to be well over $7 million.