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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
THE ZIFA Normalisation Committee members have come under attack for snubbing the official opening of Prophet Walter Magaya’s Heart Stadium, which was graced by President Mnangagwa in Waterfalls yesterday.
Top Government officials including Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Kirsty Coventry and her deputy Emily Jesaya as well as Defence and Tourism ministers Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Barbara Rwodzi attended the ceremony so did hundreds of football stakeholders.
But the Zifa NC leadership chose not to be part of the gathering despite getting invitations from the stadium owners.
No-one from the ZIFA NC including chairman Lincoln Mutasa and his deputy Cynthia Malaba as well as committee member Sikhumbuzo Ndebele showed up.
Zimpapers Sports can reveal that the ZIFA NC also ignored invitations from Magaya to attend the ground-breaking ceremony on August 15 when construction of the 5 000-seater facility started.
They also snubbed an invitation to assess progress at the venue in September.
While the who is who of football including the sacked ZIFA trio of Xolisani Gwesela, Wellington Mpandare and Wilson Mutekede took their time to celebrate the arrival of this new baby in the football infrastructure landscape, Mutasa and his crew couldn’t care.
The Premier Soccer League were also represented with the league’s chairman Farai Jere and chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele leading a host of PSL governors, coaches and players.
Footballers Union of Zimbabwe president Desmond Maringwa was also in attendance along with current and former players, as well as football legends.
But the ZIFA office was not represented and this did not go down well with various stakeholders. And, Sports and Recreation Commission board chairman Gerald Mlotshwa was concerned by the development.
Giving a vote of thanks at the event, Mlotshwa said the SRC will look into the anomaly.
“I note that ZIFA Normalisation Committee notwithstanding specific invitations is not here representing football,” said Mlotshwa.
“We will attend to this pettiness from the Normalisation Committee”.
This is not the first time the Zifa NC has been accused of pettiness. When media reported that Warriors players boycotted training in Rwanda ahead of a home game against Nigeria, the Zifa NC responded by blocking journalists from talking to the players and even tried to have accreditation to cover the match against Nigeria withheld.
Outside the ZIFA NC’s pettiness, Mlotshwa was impressed with the Heart Stadium project.
“You have set the pace; it is our expectation that more will follow.
“This is a well thought out addition to our existing stadia,” said Mlotshwa.
“I urge you to continue in this trajectory, the sector is indeed open for business.
“Bigger is not always better. Domestic football needs these 5 000, 10 000 or 15 000 seater stadiums.
“If you look at the National Sports Stadium; it’s overused but too big for purpose.
“I think this is what we need as a country, these compact stadiums.
“This is an excellent initiative and this should be taken around the country. As the SRC, we will also ensure that we complement by ensuring that there is a legislative framework that include incentives on taxes and the like so that we encourage corporates to invest in these initiatives.
“And you will hear this coming out within the first quarter of 2024”.
Various football stakeholders also hailed the Heart Stadium initiative.
Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe, who spent about two years at Yadah, saluted Magaya.
“Football needs this. We wish to see more of these initiatives coming through for the good of our game,” said Mangombe.
Former CAPS United captain David Sengu echoed the same sentiments.
Online Reporter