Preparations get underway

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE country’s co-ordinator for the Homeless World Cup football tournament Petros Chatiza says they will be hosting a dinner dance on June 23 in Harare to raise funds for Team Zimbabwe’s trip to Scotland next month.

Chatiza said they are making in-roads in their preparations and are expecting the first batch of their visas to be out next week.

However, they still need to raise $20 000 for the airfares and the players’ allowances; and the dinner dance is part of their fundraising programmes towards the trip.

“Currently the team has applied for their visas to UK. I think we should be getting the first batch early next week and the second batch the week after. But we are still pushing to try and fundraise for the airfares.

“We are targeting to raise $20 000 for airfares and allowances for the players. We are hoping to have a fundraising dinner dance on June 23 in Harare.

“ Currently we have managed to raise four tickets, it’s a pledge that we have.

“I think other than the fundraising dinner dance, we have also started other initiatives, approaching companies and individuals so that we have support,” said Chatiza.

Chatiza said the team, made up of eight players, is having weekend training sessions under the guidance of coach Farai Mweta. And they are hoping to hold a week-long camp just before their departure early next month.

“As for the team, they are currently doing some training sessions in Hatcliffe on Fridays and Saturdays.

“It’s done every week but we are hoping that around the 19th to the 26th of this month we will have a one-week training camp. We hope to leave for the UK around the 4th of July because we have another training session with the Liverpool Homeless Football Club in Liverpool,” said Chatiza.

Zimbabwe made their maiden appearance at the tournament in 2006.

Last year they were number 15 out of the 48 countries that took part in the football event.

Chatiza said they are looking forward to another good outing this year.

“Last year we did perform well, out of 48 countries we came number 15. I think this year we hope to improve and get one of the eight trophies.

“For the Homeless World Cup, a player can only participate once because the tournament is meant to energise and motivate homeless and socially excluded people. So it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Chatiza.