adminPaul Mundandi Sports Reporter
MASVINGO Mayor Hubert Fidze has urged soccer administrators, players and match officials to desist from corruption and doping.
Fidze made the remarks as the guest of honour at the Zifa Masvingo Provincial awards presentation function held at Chevron Hotel on Saturday.
“I urge all the people involved in soccer especially, the referees to desist from corruption if our beautiful game is going to improve. We do not want match fixing were referees decide the outcome of the game. Strikers in the field of play are failing to score and defenders and goalkeepers are letting in goals because they would have been paid. I am appealing to all sports people especially football players to move away from prohibited substances as the case was with Chafa (Devon). Football is becoming professional in the country.
Fidze also took time to applaud the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa.
“I applaud the Honourable Minister for assisting the Warriors and it is my hope that they are going to do well at the CHAN tournament.
We had no sports ministry but now sport is taking shape in Zimbabwe following its creation and his (Langa’s) appointment.”
Fidze called on the corporate world to pour money into the Premiership as there was a lot of mileage in soccer.
“Zifa should re-introduce provincial competitions as a way of developing soccer at grassroots level. I am happy that Masvingo managed to produce the likes of Simba Sithole and my wish is to have a Premiership club in a season or two that we (Masvingo City Council) are going to sponsor,” he said.
Masvingo is probably taking a leaf from Harare City Council who now have a team in the Premiership.
Online Reporter