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The Commission has been urged to make sure the directive is implemented with effect from 1 August.
In a letter referenced; Proposed Directions in Terms of Section 23 of the SRC Act: Equitable Distribution of International Sporting Activities; to the SRC board chairman, Joseph James, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, said for some time he has been concerned about what he perceived as an inequitable distribution of international sporting fixtures in Zimbabwe, making reference to the Warriors who have not played outside Harare for some time, thus depriving football supporters throughout Zimbabwe of the opportunity to watch the national team.
“I recognise that only certain facilities are acceptable for international events and to that extent only certain stadia can be used. This will be taken into account in the formulation of the directives.
Accordingly, my proposed directives are as follows; All sports associations recognised by the SRC will immediately advise the SRC of the venues which are accepted/recognised for international fixtures by the relevant international sporting body,” wrote Coltart in his letter to the SRC.
He said with effect from the beginning of August, the SRC should only authorise international sporting events (in terms of Section 19(d) of the SRC Act) on condition that all sporting associations hold all matches involving representative Zimbabwean teams, including both friendly and official matches, at all internationally accepted venues on an equitable and alternating basis.
“For the avoidance of doubt, in any calendar year matches should be evenly spread among all internationally accepted venues. For example, in every calendar year, Zifa will have to ensure that the Warriors and Mighty Warriors play an equal number of matches each at the National Sports Stadium, Rufaro and Barboufields Stadium. Ideally matches should be held systematically and sequentially at all venues,” said the minister.
The minister said if financial considerations demand that a particular series be held at one venue, and because of that, an even distribution of matches at all venues cannot be achieved in that calendar year, then the SRC must only grant permission for future series in subsequent years if the relevant sports association holds any subsequent series at a different venue.
Minister Coltart said the whole purpose behind the directives was to ensure national equity and fairness, noting with concern that the current problem is that virtually all matches in some disciplines are played in Harare.
The Zimbabwe Warriors have never played any World Cup or Nations Cup qualifying matches outside Harare with the best Zifa could do being bringing junior national teams while the Mighty Warriors and their juniors are yet to play any official match outside the capital.
Other national associations have also concentrated in the capital, with the exception of rugby, hockey and cricket.
“If we are to build national support for all sporting disciplines and a national sense of pride, our national teams must be seen by as many Zimbabweans as possible throughout the nation. It is not meant to be rigidly applied however, and where a sporting association makes a compelling argument not to follow a particular sequence, for example because a series should be held at one venue for financial reasons, then the SRC should exercise its discretion to authorise, subject to undertakings having been obtained that equity will be obtained in future fixtures.
“The SRC must publicly announce this change in policy and annually produce a report detailing where all international matches have been held, the dates they have been held, the respective attendance figures and the report should give any justification applied to allow any deviation from a precisely equitable share of matches at all internationally accepted venues,” said Coltart.
Contacted for comment, the SRC director general Charles Nhemachena confirmed receipt of the minister’s letter.
“Yes, we did receive the letter and as indicated the board is going to consult and respond,” said Nhemachena last night.
Online Reporter