Harare — TOP Zimbabwe and Africa match official Felix Tangawarima is convinced that the South African Football Association are keen to help Zifa reap rewards from that country's hosting of the 2010 World Cup finals.

The global football showcase will roll into Africa for the first time when South Africa host the tournament in four years. And Tangawarima, who was in South Africa at the weekend where he was on a Confederation of African Football African Champions League assignment, revealed yesterday he had met with Safa officials over the 2010 World Cup. Tangawarima was the match commissioner in the African Champions League second round, first leg encounter between Orlando Pirates and Al Hilal of Sudan, which the Soweto giants won 2-0 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

It was during his tour of Caf duty in South Africa that Tangawarima took the opportunity to engage Safa officials on how best Zifa could benefit from their hosting of the World Cup. Tangawarima, who is also a Fifa match Commissioner and Caf referees instructor, said he had discussed with Safa executive member and competitions director David Nhlabathi on the possibilities of Zifa playing a key and beneficial role during their sta ging of the World Cup. "I talked to Safa officials with regards 2010, trying to establish how best we can benefit from their hosting of the tournament. "They are saying Zimbabwe can host some of the countries coming to South Africa and make arrangements to even have those teams fly in and out of that country for their matches, just like they would fly between Johannesburg and Cape Town. "The teams could even come into the country and hold their training camps here," said Tangawarima.

The former Zimbabwe Referee of the Year was, however, under no illusions about the need for Zifa to engage a host of key local stakeholders such as the Government, Air Zimbabwe and the hotel industry. "This needs the involvement of all the stakeholders and that means Zifa and Zimbabwe as a country would have to move fast to package what they have to offer and submit it to Safa either by offering reduced fares to Victoria Falls or favourable rates at our hotels. "The participating teams at the Wo rld Cup pay for their own food and accommodation although Fifa gives them funds for qualifying." Zifa, Tangawarima said, could take advantage of the coming of Safa president Molife Oliphant on Caf business this week, to further explore the modalities of how the domestic game can benefit from the World Cup.

Oliphant, who is also a Caf match commissioner, is expected to represent the continental body on a routine check of the stadiums that Zimbabwe normally use for international matches such as the African Cup of Nations, the African Champions League and the Confederation Cup. "Zifa can also come up with what they can offer to the participating countries and this can be sent to Safa ahead of the finals in Germany in June where they can also include the package in their presentations." Tangawarima said although the prerogative of how Zimbabwe could be involved in the 2010 World Cup lay on Zifa and their key stakeholders, he felt there was still need to assist the association. "

I felt it is really something worth pursuing. Even though I was on Caf business I just took it upon myself to engage with Safa officials and get their views because I felt Zifa alone cannot do everything with regards the role Zimbabwe can play in 2010. "Some of what these World Cup teams want are big international hotels which we already have and we have such venues like the National Sports Stadium and Rufaro which they can use as training grounds. So I think we have more to benefit from hosting these teams. "But it is entirely up to Zifa to take it up and engage other stakeholders like captains of tourism, Government and immigration in order to entice World Cup teams to come here.

"The time is still there but it is now up to us to put things together and from our discussions I am convinced we can get a breakthrough." Tangawarima said he had also noted the efforts being made by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in trying to stimulate tourist inflows into the country an d felt football could also play a role. "I think this is one area where the country can benefit through sport tourism and Safa are also convinced there are a lot of benefits we can derive from their hosting of the event as long as we market our country early and vigorously," Tangawarima said. Zifa have also prioritised the development of youth teams that are expected to mature and blend with some seasoned players to form a strong side that would fight for qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals. The soccer mother body, who are looking at assembling strong Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 sides, have sought to revamp the Young Warriors outfits by advertising for the junior teams' coaching posts.