Chawonza bids to transform football development

Curtworth Masango

Zimpapers Sports Hub

FORMER Dynamos Vice-chairman Vincent Chawonza aims to play a pivotal role in transforming football development in Zimbabwe if he succeeds in his bid to join the ZIFA board in the upcoming executive elections scheduled for January 25.

Chawonza, who is contesting for one of the six available slots alongside over 30 other candidates, believes his vision for a comprehensive football development plan is the solution to the country’s long-standing football problems.

In his yet-to-be-launched manifesto, Chawonza outlines key strategies, including the establishment of high-performance centres in each province using FIFA grants, the eradication of age cheating, and the formation of a junior league that runs parallel with the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Furthermore, Chawonza aims to uplift women’s football across all age groups and introduce policies that prioritise youth development.

One such policy requires Premier Soccer League teams to start at least one or two under-19 players in every match, with the option to substitute with another under-19 player.

For Division 1 teams, Chawonza proposes starting five under-23 players in every game, with the option for them to substitute each other.

Additionally, he suggests introducing age caps for lower divisions, with Division 3 limited to under-17 players and Division 2 restricted to under-20 players.

Chawonza’s experience in football development is rooted in his previous role as secretary-general of Dynamos’ developmental committee, where he played a crucial role in revitalising the club’s junior structures.

“We are committed to transforming the football landscape in our country. We are promising to build high-performance Performance Centres using the FIFA grant, with at least one in each province, resulting in over 10 centres nationwide,” said Chawonza.

“We also plan to establish a Junior League that runs parallel with the Premier Soccer League (PSL), providing a platform for our young talent to shine.

“Furthermore, we will ensure that all clubs comply with the CAF Club Licensing Requirements to be licensed to play in the local PSL.”

He added,

“Uplifting women’s football is also a priority for us, and we intend to support and develop the sport across all age groups.

“In addition, we are committed to good corporate governance, stamping out match-fixing, and promoting transparency and accountability.

“To develop our young players, we will formulate a policy that requires every PSL team to start at least one or two under-19 players in every game, substituting with another under-19 player. 

“For Division 1, we will require teams to start five under-23 players in every game, with the option for them to substitute each other. We will also introduce age caps for lower divisions, with Division 3 limited to under-17 players and Division 2 restricted to under-20 players.

“These are just a few of the initiatives we plan to implement to take our football to the next level and are part of our manifesto.”