Cosafa flops

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S bid to play host to the 2014 edition of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup has been thrown out after the organisers awarded the rights to Botswana.Dates for the tournament have not yet been confirmed but with the World Cup ending in July and all focus in Brazil, August might be the ideal month.

It is believed Zifa failed to get the government guarantee despite assurances by the association’s chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze that all was under control.

In October last year, Cosafa asked Zimbabwe to host the tournament again this year after a successful event in 2009 and Zifa agreed saying they had the full backing of the government through the newly established Sports Ministry led by Andrew Langa.

“When Cosafa approached us we did not hesitate to accept the offer. We will host this tournament with dignity like we did in the past,” Mashingaidze was qouted as saying.

“We have all the infrastructure needed. We are happy we have the full backing of our government and we believe the new Sports Ministry will come in handy like they have promised us.”

However, in a communique yesterday, Cosafa media officer Lynda Greeff said the hosting of the football showpiece that will see all the association’s members taking place, has been given to Botswana, whose football status has been growing steadily in the last 10 years.

“Botswana has been confirmed as the host nation for the 2014 Cosafa Cup becoming the fourth country to stage the event since the finals switched to a tournament format in 2007,” said Greeff in her communiqué.

With the nation set to play host to the December, African Union Region Five Under-20 Games which will gobble over $46 million from State coffers, the fiscus would have been a bit overstretched.

Zimbabwe, winners of the regional tournament four times since its inception in 1997, were 0-2 losing finalists to hosts Zambia in the 2013 edition.

Zambia like the Warriors have won the tournament four times.

The Warriors were winners in 2000, 2003, 2005 and as hosts in 2009 while Zambia were regional kings in 1997, the following year, 2006 and last year.