ZIFA are set to breathe life into their development programmes through increased FIFA support should the association satisfy the world soccer governing body by tabling an operating budget that could see half a million dollars being pumped into their coffers.

FIFA recently unveiled a development programme — FIFA Forward –through which two new funding mechanisms will be used to support the association.

The world body introduced an Operating Budget, which comes with $500 000 and the Project funding through which members can access $750 000 per year for four years with the programmes replacing the Goal Project and the Financial Assistance Programme.

FIFA development officer for Southern Africa Ashford Mamelodi is optimistic the new ZIFA leadership will be able to access the $500 000 in November and the Project funding before year end.

Mamelodi was in Zimbabwe for a three-day fact finding mission on the status of football in the country during which he met with the ZIFA executive members, councillors, former administrators, the association’s workers and the game’s stakeholders including creditors.

The veteran administrator also met with the Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane, the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe, former referees and the Sport and Recreation Commission officials.

Mamelodi remained optimistic the ZIFA assembly, which meets in the capital at the end of next month, would approve that operating budget that the executive would have tabled, which would in turn pave the way for the domestic football body to access FIFA funding.