Caf rules out future age cap

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
CONTINENTAL football governing body Caf have ruled out any future age cap for the African Nations Championship (Chan) arguing that there were enough age-group competitions that cater for the Under-17s, Under-20s and Under-23s.

Some Zimbabwean football fans had questioned the wisdom of one of the 2016 Chan favourites Zambia’s decision to include the tried, tested and trusted veterans’ duo of skipper Christopher Katongo and Isaac Chansa in this year’s tournament.

The highly experienced duo has a combined age of 66 years, three times the average ages of the Zimbabwean trio of goalkeepers Tatenda Mukuruva, Donovan Bernard and midfielder Nqobizitha Masuku.

Katongo, an Africa Cup of Nations winning captain in 2012 and serving soldier in the Zambian army, has been an inspirational figure in the Chipolopolo squad.

Chansa, whose football exploits have taken him to South Africa, Sweden, China and India, scored the solitary goal that condemned the Warriors to the first of two defeats that saw them crushing out of the competition.

Fans felt the Zambians were defeating the whole purpose of Chan, which is largely to promote and develop future talented locally-based players.

However, Caf media manager Junior Binyam said the continental mother-body does not see it that way, explaining that Chan is for home-based players regardless of their age.

“Caf already have competitions with age limits so I don’t think having an age limit in Chan is an option,” said Binyam.

“Chan is for locally-based players and that’s why the tournament is dedicated to players playing within their national leagues.The main criteria used to select players is performance and that means teams can select even players aged 37 years or more if they are good,” said Binyam.

Zimbabwe bowed out of the tournament in disgrace after managing just a single point in their three Group D matches; losing 0-1 to Zambia and by a similar margin to Mali in their second match.

They then painfully failed to hold on for a consolation win against Uganda when they conceded a late equaliser in their Wednesday encounter.