Inside ZIFA
Nqobile Magwizi
WHEN the Mighty Warriors step onto the pitch at the National Sports Stadium (NSS) on Tuesday, they will once again have the voices of their supporters behind them. After their gallant fight in Malawi, the team will draw encouragement from a home crowd as they seek to give Zimbabwe something to celebrate.
With the excitement of that homecoming comes a responsibility shared by everyone involved: Every supporter who enters the stadium must be able to leave safely.
The return of fans follows CAF’s conditional approval for up to 10 000 spectators at the Zimbabwe versus Malawi women’s Olympic qualifier on Tuesday, October 13. The same limit applies to Scottland FC’s CAF Champions League encounter with Atlético Petróleos de Luanda, provisionally scheduled for October 17. After the initial spectator ban, this is welcome news for supporters eager to get back into the stands and cheer on their teams at home.
The reprieve follows constructive engagement between ZIFA, CAF and the Government of Zimbabwe. Difficult conversations are easier to work through when people remain willing to listen and find practical answers together. CAF’s continued partnership, along with Government guarantees and support for stronger security arrangements, has helped create this opportunity. We appreciate that cooperation and recognise the responsibility that comes with it.
The terms are clear. Approval covers these two fixtures only. Attendance at future matches will still require further CAF approval following a satisfactory assessment of safety arrangements. What happens at the gates and inside the stadium over these two matches will, therefore, have consequences well beyond the final whistle. We have an opportunity to demonstrate that supporters can return safely, and we must handle this with care.
Even as we welcome this development, we cannot overlook the loss of life that preceded it. There are people for whom football’s return will carry sadness alongside the excitement. We owe them respect, and we owe everyone who attends a match serious attention to their safety. Our preparations must reflect that responsibility in ways supporters can see and experience, from their arrival through to their departure.
Zimbabweans waited for years to watch their national teams at home again. The Government, partners and football administrators worked to make that possible, and the return to the NSS brought joy.
There is something special about supporting your country from your own stands. Preserving that feeling means paying close attention to everything around the game that allows people to enjoy it safely.
A matchday starts well before the players step onto the pitch. For a supporter, it begins on the road to the stadium and continues through parking, queues, entrances and security screening. Pressure can build quickly when large numbers arrive together. A frustrating delay outside can become a dangerous situation if people start pushing or try to force their way through. Managing those moments requires preparation and patience.
Opening the stadium gates five hours before kick-off is intended to spread arrivals and give supporters enough time to enter safely. That time will only help if people know the arrangements and use it. Organisers must communicate clearly, and fans need to plan their journeys accordingly. Arriving early gives everyone more room to move and reduces the pressure that comes with a late rush.
Many of us are used to reaching the ground shortly before a match begins. Changing that habit will take a conscious effort, particularly when excitement is high and everyone wants to be inside for kick-off. Please allow yourself time.
Follow the guidance provided and cooperate with those managing entry points. A calm queue makes the experience easier for everyone, including the person beside you who may need a little more space.
ZIFA will play its part through sound preparation and close coordination with stadium authorities, the police, stewards and other service providers.
Supporters should know where to go, what is expected of them and whom to approach when they need help. Clear directions matter, especially when crowds are moving. People should be able to ask a question and receive guidance that helps them reach their place safely.
The same care must continue once supporters are inside. Passages and exits need to remain clear. Someone feeling unwell must be able to attract attention and receive assistance. Children, older supporters and people who need additional help should have the chance to enjoy the match without feeling overwhelmed. These concerns deserve attention throughout the occasion, including when everyone begins making their way out afterwards.
Supporters can help by being aware of the people around them. Give others room to move, follow instructions and alert a steward if someone appears to need assistance. We all know how absorbing a football match can be, especially when our team is pressing for a goal. Even then, a little consideration can make a real difference to someone else’s experience and safety.
The limit of 10 000 spectators must be respected. Forced entry, violence, hooliganism and pitch invasions threaten people’s safety and put future spectator access at risk. Anyone breaking the rules will be refused entry, removed, handed over to the police or banned from attending matches. Everyone who comes to support a team shares the ground with others who deserve to feel safe.
There is plenty of room for passion within those boundaries. Sing with everything you have. Cheer a good passage of play and keep encouraging the team when things become difficult. The atmosphere we love comes from supporters who care deeply about their football. We can bring that energy to the stadium while respecting the people who have come to enjoy the same occasion.
That is the support the Mighty Warriors deserve on Tuesday. Coach Stella and her players fought gallantly in Malawi. Defeat was disappointing, but it does not diminish their effort or the pride with which they represented Zimbabwe.
Returning home gives them another opportunity to compete, with their own supporters behind them. A warm reception can offer reassurance as they take on the challenge ahead.
Scottland FC’s continental fixture deserves the same care. Players should be able to concentrate on the challenge in front of them, while supporters enjoy being part of the occasion. The standards we set for Tuesday must carry through to the second match, so that both fixtures give CAF reason to be satisfied with the arrangements for all spectators.
We want families to feel comfortable bringing their children to the NSS. We want supporters to celebrate freely and leave with good memories.
Let us make Tuesday a step towards that future. Come early, look out for one another and give the Mighty Warriors your wholehearted support.
Together, we can make the stadium a place people are proud to return to, knowing they will go back home safely, too.
The work continues.
Nqobile Magwizi is the president of ZIFA.
