Zanzibar Football Association, ZFA, is biding to secure membership of International Football Union, IFU, based in Portugal, the body’s president Ali Ferej Tamim confirmed yesterday.
Tamim said Zanzibar is most likely to be admitted into the body should they meet all relevant prerequisites.
Zanzibar would feature in the IFU sanctioned tournaments and be eligible for other associated benefits.
“We are in the final stages to submit some of the essential requirements needed by IFU, but we are highly optimistic at this stage,” said Tamim.
The ZFA president was in the opinion that IFU membership would assist in exposing some of the Zanzibar’s talents at international stage.
IFU has been staging its tournaments in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean countries with significant success.
IFU is operating outside the FIFA affiliation and has become a gateway to most of the countries that have been frustrated to secure FIFA membership.
Among the essential requirements for Zanzibar to gain access into IFU includes national anthem, national flag, detailed account of domestic soccer leagues and the entire soccer history of Zanzibar.
Tamim said he has been personally close to the IFU’s secretary general Nelson do Nascimento whom he said has been highly impressed by the Zanzibar’s determination in joining the body.
The ZFA president said so far there is no cost involved in securing membership and the IFU tournaments are staged without any expense to the participating countries.
ZFA has been frustrated to join FIFA fleet of members owing to eligibility status as the body recognizes Tanzania Football Federation as the sole soccer authority in Tanzania
