ZIFA and BancABC Unite to Rebuild Football from the Roots

Zimbabwean football has long been defined by raw talent, passion and deep community connection. Yet for decades, that potential has too often gone unrealised, constrained by fragmented youth competitions, uneven access to opportunity and the absence of a coherent national development pathway. The launch of the BancABC Roots Impact Programme marks a decisive attempt to change that narrative. Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Football Association in partnership with leading financial institution BancABC, the Roots Impact Programme form the junior pillar of the ZIFA Presidential Challenge Cup. They are designed not as a once-off tournament, but as a year-round national youth development platform that deliberately connects schools, communities, provinces and elite football pathways under a single, standardised system.

At its core, the initiative seeks to address one of the most persistent challenges facing Zimbabwean football: how to identify, nurture and transition young talent in a structured, transparent and inclusive manner. The Roots Impact Programme introduce nationally aligned competitions for Under-14 and Under-16 boys and girls, ensuring that young players across the country are exposed to consistent standards, safeguarding frameworks and clear progression routes.

ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi described the programme as a strategic intervention rather than a symbolic gesture. He noted that football nations that succeed sustainably do so because they invest deliberately in their foundations.

“This is about rebuilding Zimbabwean football by design, not by chance,” said Magwizi. “For too long, our youth football ecosystem has been fragmented. The Roots Impact Programme bring structure, governance and clarity. They ensure that a talented child, whether from an urban suburb or a rural community, has a fair and visible pathway into the national football system.”

The initiative is underpinned by strong governance principles and a clear national footprint. Provincial teams are organised across all provinces, feeding into five national hubs located in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo. This structure allows for nationwide reach while maintaining quality control and technical oversight.

Equally important is the programme’s alignment with education. Through an existing Memorandum of Understanding between ZIFA and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, schools are positioned as key talent incubation centres. Football is not treated as an extracurricular afterthought, but as part of a broader developmental ecosystem that values discipline, safeguarding and holistic growth.

ZIFA Technical Director Dominique Niyonzima emphasised that the Roots Impact Programme are as much about methodology as they are about opportunity. “Talent does not develop in isolation,” said Niyonzima. “It requires structured competition, qualified coaching, consistent monitoring and clear benchmarks. The Roots Impact Programme allow us to standardise youth football across the country, introduce modern development principles and ensure that progression is based on merit rather than geography or circumstance.”

The leagues also form a critical component of the national talent pathway. From school and community teams, players progress through district and provincial levels before entering national youth structures and, ultimately, elite football environments. This clarity not only benefits players, but also coaches, parents and administrators, who can now understand how each stage connects to the next.

While ZIFA provides the technical leadership and regulatory framework, the partnership with BancABC has been instrumental in turning vision into reality. As a leading financial institution with a strong footprint across Zimbabwe, BancABC’s involvement reflects a growing recognition that sport can be a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment, social cohesion and national development.

BancABC Managing Director Tawanda Munaiwa highlighted the strategic rationale behind the partnership, noting that grassroots sport aligns naturally with the bank’s values.

“Football has the unique ability to reach communities that many other programmes cannot,” said Munaiwa. “By partnering with ZIFA on the Roots Impact Programme, we are investing in young people, in education and in long-term national potential. This is not about short-term visibility. It is about supporting a system that empowers the next generation with opportunity, discipline and hope.”

The partnership underscores the critical role the private sector can play in unlocking dormant potential within Zimbabwean sport. Where public institutions provide vision, policy and oversight, private sector partners bring resources, stability and scalability. Together, they create platforms that are sustainable beyond individual seasons or administrations.

For ZIFA, the Roots Impact Programme also represent a broader institutional shift. They signal a move away from ad hoc youth competitions towards a unified national system aligned with international best practice. They reinforce the Association’s commitment to transparency, safeguarding and long-term planning, while restoring confidence among stakeholders that youth development is being taken seriously.

Importantly, the initiative places equal emphasis on boys’ and girls’ football, ensuring that young female players are fully integrated into the national development framework. This inclusive approach reflects modern football realities and strengthens the overall talent pool.

As the Roots Impact Programme roll out nationally, their success will ultimately be measured not only by trophies or results, but by the quality of players, coaches and administrators they produce over time. More broadly, they offer a compelling example of what is possible when football institutions and private sector partners align around a shared vision.

In a footballing landscape often shaped by short-term pressures, the BancABC Roots Impact Programme stand out as a patient, deliberate investment in the future. They are a reminder that rebuilding football is not simply about what happens under floodlights, but about what is nurtured quietly, consistently and inclusively at grassroots level.

For Zimbabwean football, the journey back to competitiveness begins where it always should: at the roots.

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