adminNgqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
Zifa vice-president, Omega Sibanda has urged football clubs to put players’ safety first when transporting players to and from games.
Speaking after visiting Division Two side, Lobengula Stars players who are admitted at Mpilo Hospital who were involved in an accident in Nyamandlovu , Sibanda said there is need for teams to provide decent transport and put the welfare of footballers first.
“This is something that is very terrible. I feel for the boys but it is good to hear they are on the mend. Transporting players in open trucks is something we do not encourage both from a health perspective and the sitting arrangements, it is unsporting. But on the other hand, I sympathise with the club because they are a small team with no sponsor. It’s just one man running the show who has football at heart and is trying to uplift the lives of these youngsters through football and I think we all have to give support to the club, the injured players and their families at this time,” he said.
The players were involved in an accident last Sunday coming from a friendly match against Tsholostho FC in Tsholotsho. The driver of the open T35 truck reportedly lost control of the vehicle after trying to avoid a pothole resulting in the vehicle veering off the road and overturning. One person died and eight others were injured in the accident with six still detained at Mpilo Hospital.
Those recovering at the hospital is the owner of the truck, Justice Gumbo who had offered the vehicle to the team for free, the driver, Mduduzi Dube, whose hand could be amputated due to the extent of his injuries while players at the Bongani Mafu-owned team who are recuperating include Pardon Harawa, Leon “Nicky” Kaunda, Ronald Chakafana and Innocent Mudamba.
“I also think teams that are in the Premier League should try by all means to assist smaller teams by giving them transport when they invite them for friendly matches. Players are the ones who we go to stadiums to watch hence we should endeavor to treat them well all the time,” said Sibanda.
He added that Zifa long banned the use of trucks by teams.
“A former Dynamos player died while travelling in a truck and Zifa directed clubs not to use trucks anymore. I know times are hard and circumstances force clubs to use any means available. This is not the time to be pointing fingers at anyone but let’s try to uses kombis at least to transport our players. Though that will not guarantee that there won’t be an accident but at least that is a better form of transport recommended by the national association.”
He pledged Zifa’s assistance to the injured saying he will engage other Zifa officials to see how they can give a hand.
He urged relatives of the injured not to begrudge the owners of the team whose intention was to develop the game.
Sibanda visited the players on Friday together with some members of the Under-20 national team technical department who included head coach, Jairos Tapera and Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu.
A relative of one of players said they were struggling to meet hospital bills and the club had not offered them any assistance. She said Mpilo officials were demanding cash up front.
Former Warriors’ midfield maestro, Ronald Sibanda, who is one of the coaches at the club, was also in the truck and sustained injuries but was treated and discharged. Bigboy Gumede, the person who died had been given a lift at Nyamandlovu shops.
The director of the club, Mafu, a former Zimbabwe Saints, Highlanders coach and now Tsholotsho assistant coach, said his club was appealing for financial support from well-wishers to meet medical expenses.
“We appreciate the support we have received from Zifa vice president and his delegation and all other officials who have visited the players in hospital. The club also thanks the families of the players and the Lobengula community for standing by the team during this period and we appeal to anyone who can assist us to meet the medical expenses to approach us or Zifa. We are a small club with no sponsor and everything we do is from donations from well-wishers and we basically survive from hand to mouth. It is just the love of the game that keeps us going,” said Mafu.
Bongani Ndlovu