Gweru – May 9, 2025 – In a landmark move that underscores the power of strategic collaboration in driving national development, Midlands State University (MSU) and the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at MSU’s Gweru Main Campus.
The formal agreement sets the stage for a transformative partnership aimed at professionalising football administration in Zimbabwe and positioning sport as a catalyst for economic and social progress.
The MoU outlines a robust framework for the development of skilled football administrators marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Zimbabwe’s sporting landscape.
The partnership aligns seamlessly with MSU’s vision of becoming a leading, innovative and entrepreneurial world-class institution leveraging football administration to foster innovation, economic growth and national cohesion beyond traditional academic boundaries.
Delivering the opening remarks, Professor Mcebisi Maphosa – Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Administration at MSU emphasized the strategic importance of the agreement.
“This Memorandum of Understanding represents a unique opportunity to professionalise football administration while promoting national unity through sport,” said Professor Maphosa.
“We are engaging with Zimbabwe’s most beloved and unifying sport—one with enormous untapped potential to contribute to the nation’s socio-economic transformation and our commitment is to ensure mutual value for all stakeholders while positioning football as a serious business capable of generating meaningful economic impact,” he shared.
ZIFA President Mr. Nqobile Magwizi echoed these sentiments expressing strong optimism about the partnership’s long-term impact on the football ecosystem.
“This collaboration is a historic milestone that embodies our shared vision—not only as sports organisations but as drivers of national development,” said Mr. Magwizi.
“It lays the foundation for a complete overhaul of football governance in Zimbabwe, enabling us to establish professional standards, enhance administrative capacity and build sustainable pathways for commercialisation and community empowerment,” he went on to say.
The MoU paves the way for a multi-pronged collaboration including the creation of specialised training programmes for football administrators, strategies to develop football into a viable economic sector and initiatives that harness the sport’s power to strengthen community ties and social cohesion.
The signing ceremony concluded with officials from both institutions formally endorsing the agreement affirming their mutual commitment to a long-term partnership grounded in innovation, excellence and shared purpose.
With this strategic alliance, MSU and ZIFA position themselves as key players in redefining the role of sport in Zimbabwe—demonstrating how academic rigor and athletic passion can come together to drive lasting as well as positive impact across communities, industries and generations.