Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports-Hub
ZIFA Referees Committee chairperson, Norman Matemera believes it is now time to put into practice the knowledge and experience he has gained over the years into practice as he targets a board member position in the new ZIFA board to be elected at the end of this month.
Matemera has centred his vision for the new ZIFA board on unity, integrity, transparency and equality.
In an interview with the Zimpapers Sports Hub, the referees boss said that his association with key stakeholders in football as a match official has helped him to harvest knowledge which he believes can transform local football.
“I have been in football for the past 24 years, and 21 years of them being an active referee and the last 11 years, I have been at the top level of African refereeing, African football and travelled quite a lot, and I have witnessed a lot in the African and local football jungle.
“I have amassed that knowledge, also learnt quite a lot on the refereeing front, and in that regard, having seen national teams, clubs, coaches, referees, administrators.
“We associate quite a lot with national associations, who are our hosts most of the time for referees so I am well equipped, I have got knowledge in all those various areas, and this is the main reason that I think I am well qualified, and I can assist my country,” said Matemera.
The former referee revealed that getting back to grassroots developments was one key area which he will drive to be implemented if elected in the ZIFA board.
“When we talk of grassroots development, we are not only talking about players, we need young coaches. People who are trained to be coaches at a 10-year age, at a 12-year age, at 15. We need referees to be trained from 12 years, from 8 years.
“We need administrators to be also trained from that young age, we need team managers to be trained from that age.
“We adults will be there to just support the young kids, the grassroots, to support them so that everything goes on well, this is my thinking of what we call grassroots development,” said Matemera.
He added that there was a need for fair distribution of funds from FIFA.
“We need to have devolution, let us divide our money to go to regions, provinces and area zones. These are the zones which are critical, which also need money for administration.
“ZIFA gets funding from FIFA for administration, and we need to have a certain percent cascade down to assist the administration of regions, the administration of provinces, the administration of area zones.
“Let us share the resources equally that we get from FIFA,” said Matemera.
