Call for sports medical society

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
IN the week that domestic football was rocked by the death of ZRP Morris defender Nyasha Chakanyuka, the tragedy has heightened calls for the need to set some form of medical aid society that caters for the insurance of sportspersons. Chakanyuka collapsed and died during the Northern Region Division One outfit’s training session at Morris Depot on Wednesday morning and was buried in Bindura yesterday.

ZRP Morris’ fixture against Karoi United scheduled for today has since been postponed to allow coach John “Toto” Ncube’s men time to mourn their teammate who was also attested to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

ZIFA joined ZRP Morris in mourning the 28 year-old defender, with the association’s communications manager Xolisani Gwesela sending a message of condolence on behalf of the mother body. But as football comes to terms with the on-field death of the ZRP Morris defender, the latest by a player from the lower divisions, a number of questions have also been raised over what is being done by those in authority to cater for the health of footballers and Zimbabwean athletes in general.

There have also been deaths in recent years of such players like Elisha Chikuni of Blue Swallows, and Eliah Munyaradzi, who played for Division Three side Maguta FC of Epworth.

Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane yesterday also weighed into the debate and acknowledged the need to speedily address the issue of athletes welfare and revealed that Government was also attaching greater significance to the matter.

“Government attaches great importance to the safety and security of athletes and players.

“All actors in the sport and recreation sector need to take steps that guarantee the safety of athletes. The sector must understand that sport, like any other economic sector is a source of employment and that Government will ensure that the sector is organised in such a manner as to provide not just employment but insurance and pensions for its workers.

“In order for the safety of athletes to be guaranteed, medical insurance is one such crucial intervention and the sport and recreation sector needs to begin to explore ways of providing such,” Hlongwane said.