By Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily
Harare, Zimbabwe – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) as well as the Premier Soccer League (PSL) are still mum on the resumption of football in the southern African country.
Countries like Tanzania and South Africa have already resumed their football activities with Tanzania having opened up its entire football leagues last weekend and South Africa allowed to conduct training.
However, this is despite the fact that the two countries have more COVID-19 confirmed cases as compared to Zimbabwe which has less than 500 COVID-19 cases.
Many players have been left without an income due to the suspension of the PSL. Last week some players of one of the PSL’s top flight teams, CAPS United, demonstrated at the club house demanding to be remunerated.
Regardless, ZIFA has since said its waiting on the government to give it the nod and also said it was not aware of any players who were not paid their dues.
“We are guided by government policy and we haven’t received any complaint yet,” said ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela.
Nevertheless, Mark Harrison, the former Highlanders coach who is currently in England also concurred with ZIFA citing that football was only supposed to resume when it was safe to do so.
“Football can only start up again when it’s truly safe to do so, remember clubs in Europe are testing their players and staff daily, I don’t think any clubs in Zimbabwe have that capability to do so and therefore keep their employees safe,” said Harrison.
Harrison further added that once football resumes he would prefer going back to Highlanders, “I am hoping to return to Highlanders once things normalise.”
Triangle United coach, Taurai Mangwiro also supported the move to wait on government’s instructions before contemplating about resuming football.
“We have fewer COVID-19 cases than all the countries that have resumed their football but I think it’s best to wait on the government’s instructions to avoid unnecessary repercussions.
The Triangle United coach further added that despite football not being allowed to resume his team was keeping fit nevertheless, “we as a team have been conducting training through virtual platforms so as soon as the government gives the nod we will be ready to go.”
