Absence of ambulances at matches exposes Div One

A sight that paints a bad picture of Southern Region Division One was witnessed at Luveve Stadium last weekend as a seriously injured player was transported to the hospital in a private vehicle.

There was no ambulance cover on sight as should be the norm.

A ZPC Hwange defender Kudakwashe Sithole collided with Adachi striker Tawanda Zinaka inside the box and unfortunately for Sithole he incurred a fracture and needed urgent hospital attention.

A private car had to be used to transport the player needed hospital attention. While the presence of an ambulance before start of play is not mandatory for Division One matches, the incident serves as a wake up call to the danger the players face when playing without emergency medical services in close proximity.

Zifa Southern Region board member finance Tizirayi Luphahla said they are working towards getting a partner to supply ambulance services for their league games.

“It’s obviously something we do not want to see in our game. At present we are looking for partners who can offer us the ambulance services for our games so that we are as professional as we possibly can be,” said Luphahla. Back in 2019, Innocent Kutsanzira also got fractured during a game against Ciwu at the same venue and once again a private vehicle was used to take him to the hospital.

An orthopaedic surgeon informed Kutsanzira that he had displaced the right tibia and fibula.

He has since recoverd from the injury and is now back on the playing field turning out for Adachi. — @innocentskizoe.