9 May, 2025 – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Midlands State University (MSU), marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing the training and development of football administrators in Zimbabwe.

The MoU, signed by ZIFA President Mr Nqobile Magwizi and MSU Registrar Mr Tinashe Zishiri, signifies a shared commitment to improving the standards of football management and governance across the country. Through this collaboration, ZIFA and MSU will work together to design and implement structured academic and professional training programmes tailored to the needs of football administrators at all levels.

This partnership comes at a crucial time as Zimbabwean football intensifies efforts to build capacity and professionalise the sport’s administration in line with regional and international best practices.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, ZIFA President Mr Nqobile Magwizi expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative: “This is a significant milestone for Zimbabwean football. By working with a leading academic institution like Midlands State University, we are laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth through education and capacity building. A well-trained team of football administrators will be key to achieving our development goals.”

MSU Registrar Mr Tinashe Zishiri echoed the sentiment, stating: “As a university, we are excited to bring our academic expertise to the service of football in Zimbabwe. This collaboration aligns with our mission to contribute meaningfully to national development through education, training, and research.”

ZIFA is confident that this partnership will yield long-term benefits for football governance, not only at the national level but also within clubs, regions, and grassroots structures.

Further details on programme offerings and implementation timelines will be shared in due course.