What footballing family wish for in 2017

Raymond Jaravaza
A NEW year and new challenges for Zimbabwean football. Here are the five things that B-Metro Sport wants to see happening in local football in 2017.

(1) PSL security ramped up

Ugly scenes of violence that were witnessed at Rufaro, Barbourfields and Mandava Stadiums in the 2016 Premier Soccer League season are not only an eyesore but also tarnish the image of local football as well as scaring away existing and potential sponsors hence the need to beef up security at all stadia. It is also the duty of clubs to ensure adequate security by increasing the number of marshals especially at high profile matches to supplement police details assigned to the games to ensure unruly elements are sniffed out from the supportersa�� stands before causing mayhem.

(2) Clubs getting a huge chunk in gate takings

The current situation where clubs get a paltry slice from gate takings just doesna��t economic sense. Organisations such as Zifa, the PSL, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and stadium owners (in most instances local municipalities) all queue in the cashiera��s office and walk away with various percentages in gate takings,A� leaving clubs with crumbs thus in so many ways contributing to the death of football in the country. For instance when Highlanders beat Dynamos 2-1 at Barbourfields Stadium last year an estimated 25 000 supporters paid to watch the match yet the hosts a�� Bosso a�� were left with $20 185, a mere 44 percent of the gate takings, after grossing over
$44 000. How are the players, who are the reason thousands of supporters throng stadia in the first place, supposed to be paid when so called stakeholders pocket more than half of the gate takings?

(3) Philip Chiyangwa concentrating on being Zifa president

Under his watch chaos around the number of teams that are supposed to be relegated and promoted has been all over the media for the wrong reasons. While we congratulate him for winning the Cosafa presidency we expect Philip Chiyangwa to clean his own house first before attempting to charm regional football associations that fall under the body Cosafa. Zifa is failing to attract sponsors and it doesna��t take a rocket scientist to deduce that as long as the national football mother body leadership continues to run the association like a tuckshop then the corporate world will keep its distance.

(4) Zero tolerance to hooliganism and hate language

Hooliganism in and outside stadiums is simply not acceptable. Football is a family sport that should be enjoyed by fans of all ages. Missile throwing supporters a�� whether provoked or not a�� must be brought before the authorities and charged according to the laws of the land if need be. Disturbing pictures of fans carrying placards with hate speech inscribed on them or supporters armed to the teeth must not be tolerated in 2017.

(5) Wi-Fi and TV monitors for journalists in press areas

Journalists still cover matches in press areas that a�� apart from very few exceptions a�� do not have Wi-Fi, a situation that makes the work of the Fourth Estate a tad difficult. .