Vusumuzi Dube
Petros Kausiyo,Harare Bureau
DESPITE racing against time, Zifa’s Normalisation Committee are optimistic the Warriors will not be forced to play their Africa Nations Championships (Chan) assignments at neutral venues because of the on-going stadium crisis in the country.
The Warriors are expected to end a 19-month absence from international football action when they compete in the Chan qualifiers on the weekend of September 22-24. But they have no confirmed home ground, which they can register with the Confederation of African Football (Caf) ahead of the Chan draw. The Warriors are also without a coach.
Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa, however, revealed that the senior national team will play an international friendly against the Zebras on September 30 as part of commemorations for Botswana’s 57th Independence Day, commonly known as Boipuso.
Mutasa told Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday that apart from Botswana, they were trying to tie down the Mambas of Mozambique for another warm up encounter for the Warriors. He also acknowledged that his committee faces a tough task in trying to ensure the Warriors are adequately prepared for the tougher 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
“The timeline is determined by our desire and need to prepare our team to play on the FIFA September window in order to start preparing them for the World Cup qualifiers. There is also October but October is not the only FIFA window for internationals. As mentioned there is a window in September. We have contacted a number of countries but are yet to firm up on dates with Mozambique. We have also agreed to play Botswana during their Independence Celebrations on 30th September,’’ he said.
He added that his committee had engaged the Sport and Recreation Commission to establish on progress on the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium ahead of the Warriors assignments. The Normalisation Committee have also earmarked Rufaro and Barbourfields for possible use by the Warriors.
This comes amid indications from the Harare City Council that Rufaro could be ready to open its doors for use soon. Mutasa and his committee are hopeful that one of the three venues, will be certified fit to host international matches again, having been condemned by Caf inspection teams after a series of visits.
The three venues also failed to meet the grace periods granted on the stadium authorities to work on the anomalies that Caf had cited. The former Dynamos chairman also revealed that a delegation from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) is due in the country in early September for an inspection visit on the National Sports, Rufaro and Barbourfields.
“The Normalisation Committee has discussed with the SRC on the National Stadium and we are aware of pending stadium inspection scheduled in coming weeks. The inspection will cover Rufaro and Barbourfields.’’
Warriors coach
After reportedly receiving overwhelming responses from both local and foreign coaches for the vacant Warriors post, Mutasa said they had identified a technical committee of local and foreign experts to help them select the best man to take of the senior national team.
However, in a move that underscores the mistrust that exists between the Normalisation Committee and the Zifa secretariat, Mutasa confirmed that technical director Wilson Mutekede has been overlooked in the selection process of the national coaches.
There had been expectations that Mutekede being the expert on technical matters would play a role or even observe the process on behalf of Zifa. But there has been no love lost between the Normalisation Committee and the Zifa secretariat especially the association’s three senior employees – acting chief executive Xolisani Gwesela, national teams’ general manager Wellington Mpandare and Mutekede with Mutasa’s committee working on their own and away from the Zifa headquarters.
“We will have competent people to assist both local and from beyond our borders with requisite skills.
“As you may be aware, going forward we will need to improve on confidentiality so that the selected people will not be pressured by different interest groups to appoint so and so. We want them to be objective and open minded as they get down to this very important task,’’ Mutasa said.
Gwesela, Mpandare and Mutekede have been on the firing line since December 2021 when they allegedly defied an order to “paralyse football’’ and ensure the Warriors failed to fulfil their Africa Cup of Nations participation executive.
That plot, which reportedly sucked in FIFA head of development programmes in Africa Solomon Mudege, was aimed at embarrassing the Sports Commission for suspending Felton Kamambo’s board on November 16, 2021.
This has led to the Normalisation Committee overlooking the secretariat amid revelations of a bid to fire the staff and make fresh appointments for their one-year tenure at the helm of Zifa. Away from their friction with the Zifa secretariat, which has blighted the start of their arduous reform process at the association, Mutasa is happy with the overwhelming responses they got for the national teams’ jobs which he believes shows the significance attached to the Warriors brand.
“We have received a large number of applications from both our nationals and foreign coaches for all the positions we advertised. The enthusiasm, interest has been very high showing us that many people want to be associated with the brand and recognise the talent and potential in our country.’’
Bongani Ndlovu