Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE football fans have been challenged to take responsibility for the events that led to the CAF spectator ban at the National Sports Stadium, with Ministry Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Permanent Secretary Nicholas Moyo saying the country must “rise above the petty behaviour.”
The CAF ban has taken some shine off Zimbabwe’s return to the refurbished National Sports Stadium, which had been homologated to host international matches after extensive investment in its refurbishment.
The Warriors’ homecoming game against the Democratic Republic of Congo last month was meant to mark a new chapter for the national team at the stadium.
Instead, the match ended with Zimbabwe facing a CAF sanction following two incidents, a commotion at Gate Two before the match and a pitch invasion after the final whistle.
Moyo said the two incidents were the basis of CAF’s decision and urged Zimbabweans to take responsibility.
“We have received communication from CAF to the effect that it’s a ban for spectators. We need to separate issues. Zimbabwe has spent a lot of resources in the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium which has been homologated to play international matches,” said Moyo.
“But having been homologated there were two major issues, the commotion at gate number two. There were people pushing the gate and there was a reaction from the police to try and stop people from pushing the gate and we lost one person and then after the match there was a pitch invasion so it has to be clear the CAF decision came as a result of those two incidents.”
Moyo said the country could not afford to repeat such incidents and called for greater responsibility from supporters.
“We are saying as Zimbabweans we need to rise above the petty behaviour. It is important that as Zimbabweans we have to take responsibility for our actions. We need to rise about the petty behaviour. As a country we need to take responsibility over our actions.”
Zimbabwe is now engaging CAF in an attempt to have the decision reconsidered.
Moyo said the authorities do not agree with the spectator ban, but acknowledged that Zimbabwe has to demonstrate that it can properly manage crowds before CAF can have confidence in the country.
“We are busy engaging CAF so that they reconsider. Do we support the decision made by CAF? No!! How do we deal with crowd control going forward. We are engaging CAF and they are saying to us prove to us that you are ready.”
The comments come at a crucial time for Zimbabwean football.
The refurbished National Sports Stadium was expected to provide the Warriors with a permanent home after years of playing their international matches outside the country or at alternative venues.
The return playing against DRC generated huge excitement, with the stadium packed for the occasion.
But the incidents surrounding the match have now placed crowd control and spectator behaviour firmly under the spotlight.
For Moyo, the challenge is no longer simply having a stadium that meets the required infrastructure standards.
Zimbabwe must also demonstrate that it can provide a safe and controlled match-day environment.
The engagement with CAF is now underway, with Zimbabwe hoping to convince the continental football governing body that lessons have been learnt and measures can be put in place to prevent a repeat.
The National Sports Stadium may have passed the infrastructure test.
Now Zimbabwe must prove it can pass the crowd-control test.
