Coaches decry Covid-19 lay off

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
FOOTBALL coaches in the lower divisions say although they welcome the return of the game, they fear that some players may have quit due to the long layoff because of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Government last week announced that sport could resume after almost a two-year suspension.

Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association (Zisca) Bulawayo provincial executive member Kudzayi Mhandire said they hope the situation has not reached a point where a lot of players have left.

“In all reality there is great fear that some players won’t come back to the field of play. These boys need to be playing otherwise they will engage in drugs and other criminal activities. The earlier we start the better,” said Mhandire.

He said they were happy as an association that coaches will now be active and those that wish to upgrade can do so.

“The football industry was slowly dying a painful death and we are happy to be allowed to return to the field of play,” said Mhandire.

He said coaches had become destitute with no income and had resorted to other side hassles to survive.

Most Bulawayo coaches are now fully vaccinated and Mhandire urged those that are still sceptical to get the jab for them to resume work.

Government says no unvaccinated officials or players will be allowed in any sport.