*OPINION | _The Ball Is Now in Your Half: Time for ZIFA and Its Regions to Convert_* *By Edgar Gabarinocheka* There comes a time in every nation’s footballing journey when the hymn of complaint must give way to the anthem of responsibility. For years, Zimbabwe’s football administrators sang a chorus of despair—pleading for financial muscle, begging for benevolent sponsors, and blaming the decay of the beautiful game on a lack of resources. But now, after the rains have come and soaked the dry and weary fields of local football, after many have risen with sweat, sacrifice and shrewd investment, we must ask: ZIFA, what now? The winds of change are here, blowing through the dressing rooms of our once-weary clubs, fluttering the flags above refurbished stadiums, and rustling the matchday banners carried by hopeful fans. Scotland is building a stadium from scratch, FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum have long shown that money spent wisely bears fruit, and Hardrock in Division One is writing a new gospel with its heavy investment in both squad and infrastructure. MWOS is breathing new life into Norton. Dynamos are flying to matches like continental kings, not local stragglers (_they lose when they get there_). Highlanders are bringing back that infectious fan energy—drums, dances, and dreams. Simba Bhora is not just a name now; it is a brand, a movement. So, ZIFA, the ball now lies squarely in your half. The defenders have done their part, the midfielders have passed you the ball with precision, the sponsors have run the hard yards. It is time for you to shoot. And we are not asking for a bicycle kick. We’re asking for the basics—a clean, well-managed, corruption-free game. But alas, the first stumbling block is officiating. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—what are these referees doing to our game? In my village, Chamuka the schoolteacher referees weekend matches with a painted cardboard red card, and I daresay he does a better job. Our Premier League referees, however, have made it an art to get things wrong. Fouls missed. Penalties invented. Games shortened with no regard for the laws of the game. Do these men and women in black receive training? If so, who trains them? And if not, what a tragic joke this is. A nation that allows such officiating is like a man who plants a tree, waters it for years, then lets goats devour it at the hour of harvest. In the English Premier League and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, referees were taught to take control—ensure full 90-minute matches, punish time-wasters, and add accurate injury time. Is it too much to ask the same of Zimbabwe? Or must we always be the continent's punchline? Secondly, let us talk about integrity and fixture fulfilment. How does a team, Kwekwe United, fail to show up for a home fixture? Is this a league or a village tournament? The shame of such absenteeism reverberates far and wide—TV crews, match officials, opposing teams, and even vendors suffer because someone did not secure bus fare or meals. ZIFA must enforce financial vetting before teams are admitted into leagues. Look at FC Platinum. Look at Ngezi. Look at Hardrock. The blueprint is there. Learn. Enforce. Repeat. And then comes the beast that lies in wait—security, or the alarming lack thereof. At Maglas Stadium this past Sunday, Gwanda Pirates came calling, and chaos answered. Reports and pictures suggest mayhem. A gun allegedly fired. A match commentator nearly silenced forever. Wives now refuse their husbands permission to attend the next game. What is this? A football match or a war front? ZRP, with all due respect, your deployment to football matches is a tired joke. Ten officers in a single pick-up truck to manage over 3000 fans? This is not a church gathering—it is a football match, where passions ignite and tempers boil. These events need trained, fit, and committed officers, not semi-retired uncles chewing gum at the gates while fans smuggle in bottles and blades. No vetting. No pat-downs. No record of who attended. Just gate fees and prayers. _*Kungopinda here veduwe?*_ If this continues, it is not if something terrible will happen, but when. We do not need our own Hillsborough to learn what others learned with tears. We must act. We must anticipate. The cost of apathy is blood. So, ZIFA and your regional underlings, hear this: your time of excuses has ended. The support has come. The private sector has spoken. Communities have invested. Now, you must rise. Referees must be trained and accountable. Clubs must meet minimum requirements or stay out. And security must be real, not ceremonial. Football is not just a sport—it is culture, identity, and for many, the only source of joy in a hard life. Do not make it dangerous. Do not make it farcical. Do not make it an embarrassment. The ball is at your feet, *ZIFA*. Convert. _*Edgar Gabarinocheka* writes in his own capacity. His views are not the views of Ya FM or Great Dyke News 24, which only provide a platform to encourage productive and constructive debate on national and global issues._