Innocent Kurira
ZIMBABWE Football Forum advisory board chairman Gerald Sibanda says football stakeholders must continuously gather to collaborate, forge synergies and improve the business ecosystem in the industry.
His sentiments come after the successful hosting of the Southern Africa Football Business Forum held in Harare last Friday.
The summit was held in Harare under the theme ‘Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Structural Integrity in Football’.
The meeting saw foreign and local football brains gather to find solutions to how best the game of football can be transformed locally.
Sibanda said the event was a huge success.
“We are delighted by the attendance and participation of all the Delegates, partners, Special Guests and our Guest of Honour Minister Coventry. Also in attendance was Deputy Minister of Tourism, Tongai Mnangagwa to welcome our visiting guests La Liga and African Football Icon Jomo Sono, “ said Sibanda.
He says a number of partnerships emerged from the forum.
“Zimbabwe football and its stakeholders must continuously gather to collaborate, forge synergies and improve the business ecosystem in the football industry.
“We are excited to see new partnerships emerge from the football forum.
“The main highlight of the conference was the minister’s message to lay out the Government’s five to 10-year plan in supporting the sports Industry.
“A very encouraging message to all the leaders of the various Associations and Federations in Zimbabwean Sports,” said Sibanda.
Minister of Sport, Art and Recreation Kirsty Coventry was the guest of honour at the event where Deputy Ambassador Embassy of Spain Diego Calatayud was a special guest.
Foreign speakers at the conference included South African football legend Jomo Sono, Enrique Suay Querchfeld from Spain, La Liga Africa director Tresor Penku, and Rui Frois, who is a football agent from South Africa.
Local speakers and panelists included H-Metro editor Robson Sharuko, Premier Soccer League (PSL) marketing and ICT Manager Rodwell Thabe, Highlanders FC Chief Executive Officer Ronald Moyo, Golden Eagles chairman Barry Manandi, FC Platinum Holdings Public Relations officer Chido Chizondo and General Manager Doves Holdings Joel Gombera.
La Liga, the Spanish football league, partnered with the ZFF for the programme.
LaLiga opened an African office in Johannesburg (South Africa) in 2015, in what became its first representation on the African continent.
The opening of the office gave a historic step in the strategy of international expansion of Spanish professional football. The goal of the office is the global positioning of La Liga´s brand in Africa, approaching African fans who follow Spanish football