Zim hail Caf, Fifa safety efforts

Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S National Safety and Security officer, Emmanuel Mutunami, has hailed efforts by FIFA and CAF to enhance stadium safety and security.

Mutunami was part of the global leaders who attended a series of meetings convened by CAF in the past week.

The meetings are meant to enhance safety and security at the stadia, especially as nations battle to resume football activities, battered by the coronavirus pandemic this year.

The continental football mother body brought together member associations, and the game’s major stakeholders — from FIFA to the World Health Organisation — in a video conference.

Mutunami was one of the participants.

The participants underscored the importance of working together with state agencies, such as the Ministry of Health, and Diseases Control Units of the various countries for guidance in the organisation of sporting activities.

ZIFA are looking for a safe return of football activities and have tasked the Premier Soccer League Medical Committee, headed by former national team doctor, Edward Chagonda, to look at the options.

The committee yesterday presented their recommendations to the ZIFA board, looking at the possibility of a September kick-off.

The league failed to start, as scheduled, in March because of the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Mutunami said local football has to take safety, and security issues, seriously ahead of the proposed start of the football activities.

CAF’s video conference with WHO, and FIFA, followed directly after their own virtual meetings with the member associations.

“I represented Zimbabwe in both meetings and many things, to do with stadium safety, were discussed,’’ he said.

“There have to be better ways to enhance security, especially during these unusual times of coronavirus pandemic.

“CAF is very aware of the challenges that may be encountered by member associations, hence the need to keep everyone abreast.”

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, CAF — in partnership with major stakeholders such as FIFA, the World Health Organisation and the Sports Ground Safety Authority — organised a unique one-day meeting to discuss the impact of the crisis plaguing African football.

A brainchild of the CAF safety and security department, headed by medical doctor, Christian Emeruwa, the virtual meeting, was the first by a confederation.

It highlighted the integration of health and security, as a fundamental organisational responsibility, as far as the resumption of football activities on the continent is concerned.

CAF acting general secretary, Abdelmounaim Bah, also attended the maiden safety and security Covid-19 review meeting.

Major sporting activities across the continent have been suspended since mid-March 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

They include the African Nations Championships, the AFCOn finals, the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the CAF interclub competitions.

“CAF is aware that the impact of Covid-19 on football safety and security will be phenomenal, hence, the need for all concerned to be brought to speed on the possible challenges.

“Also, (we need) to make recommendations on possible steps to be taken by Member Associations before the commencement of football in their respective countries,” Bah said.