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Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela (fourth from left) with fellow employees at the Zifa stand at the ZITF yesterday

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CASH-STRAPPED Zimbabwe Football Association will next week officially launch their Dollar for Football campaign.
This is among a raft of programmes and projects being implemented by Zifa as they seek to put the local game back on track.Zifa boss Cuthbert Dube recently indicated that they might soon venture into farming and mining to improve the association’s finances.

Plans to venture into farming received mixed feelings from members of the public but something has to be done to save the game.
Zifa is planning to take advantage of natural resources such as minerals and the land to generate revenue to fund its activities.

Zifa has come up with initiatives that seem to be outside the game but those opposed to it are surprisingly not offering alternatives.
Zifa has said it will cast its net wide as it seeks solutions to its financial challenges that have seen its debt ballooning to about $5 million.

Speaking at their stand at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair that kicked off yesterday, Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said Zifa had opened an Ecocash account to enable members of the public to participate in its Dollar for Football Campaign.

“It is not a secret that Zifa is facing financial constraints and the Dollar for Football Campaign is meant to partly address this problem. We are appealing to members of the public to give a hand to football by donating at least a dollar to our Ecocash account whose code is 57341,” said Gwesela.

He said the donation, which can be any amount from a dollar, will help Zimbabwean football grow and said the process was very transparent and open to public scrutiny.

Said Gwesela: “While the launch is officially set for next week, members of the public can start contributing now  and those coming to ZITF can visit us on our stand here for clarity,” he said.

The Zifa spokesman said the association will be publishing amounts donated on a weekly basis.

The Dollar for Football Campaign was suggested by former Zifa vice president Ndumiso Gumede in December 2012 during his address to mourners at Adam Ndlovu’s funeral service.

Meanwhile, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube is expected in Bulawayo tomorrow for a meeting with the business community, local authorities, football administrators and the media.

It will be the first time for the recently re-elected Dube to visit the second largest city on football business since coming into office in 2010.