FOOTBALLERS UNION OF ZIMBABWE AWARDED FULL MEMBERSHIP STATUS

The Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) was on Tuesday 22 October 2013 awarded full membership staus at the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) annual congress that is currently underway in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Speaking soon after the awarding of the full membership certificate, FUZ Secretary General, Paul Gundani had this to say, “The awarding of full FIFPro membership to us is victory for Zimbabwean footballers as it gives them full participation in international football matters and also full legal protection. It is a positive development to our game and will go a long way in improving the welfare and security of our players. FUZ is grateful for the support it received from all football stakeholders, players, the media, individuals and our government during its fight for full membership recognition.”

FIFPro welcomed the addition of six new players' associations from Ecuador (AFE), Ghana (PFAG), Malaysia (PFAM), Namibia (NAFPU), Paraguay (FAP) and Zimbabwe (FUZ). FIFPro’s Secretary-General Theo van Seggelen officially welcomed these footballers’ associations to the FIFPro family, by handing over the official FIFPro flag to its representatives.

In addition, the players’ associations of Guatamala (AFG), Malta (MFPA) and Venezuela (AUFPV) have been added as candidate members. 

The FIFPro family consists of a total 55 full members, three candidate members and seven observers (Botswana, China, Georgia, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Korea and Tunisia). 

The most important issues facing professional footballers worldwide are on the agenda this week including match-fixing, third party ownership and FIFPro's policy on playing in extreme heat with particular attention being paid to next year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

(In the picture, from left, is FIFPro Secretary General,Theo Van Seggelen; FUZ President, Desmond Maringwa with the certificate of full membership; FUZ Secretary General, Paul Gundani with the FIFPro flag; and FIFPro Division Africa President, David Mayebi).