Zim sports needs support

scene, albeit on a non-sustainable basis.
Many question whether these moments have been purely as a result of lucky streaks or benevolence on the part of the Almighty?
Or have these exploits been purely on the basis that the athletes are from the Great House of Stone?
The moments of glory in Zimbabwean sport have been more prominent in individual or small team sport such as swimming, diving, athletics, tennis, golf and more recently, beach volleyball.
This success has been attributed largely to personal sacrifice on the part of the individuals or their parents owing to less bureaucratic bungling.
Team sporting disciplines notably soccer, rugby, netball, volleyball, cricket, among others, have not enjoyed the same amount of success outside regional competitions.
There is no doubt that whenever and wherever Zimbabwean teams grace the global grand stage to participate, they do so as representatives of the nation – representing the entire populace, me and you included.
“Winning is important. But whatever the outcome is, remember, you are brand ambassadors of Zimbabwe. Do so with dignity and humility, in a way that will make us proud as Zimbabweans and we will always support you,” Zimbabwe Tourism chief executive Karikoga Kaseke was quoted while sending off the beach volleyball team to Mozambique last month.
At one time, the ZTA had to come to the rescue of the national soccer team by providing the team with descent accommodation.
Is it right to ask for first class results from people we condemn to be deplorable and at times humiliating conditions during their preparations?
This being the situation, the question that arises is what is Zimbabwean about these teams?
Is it the nationality of the participants, their selection, and moral support from nationals who know more about English and European soccer than their domestic leagues, or is it by way of national resources used during the expeditions?
In trying to answer the question of the nation’s poor showing at the international level, it is critical to look at both internal and external factors affecting performance.
The biggest cry from all national associations is the absence of sponsorship from both the Government and corporate world to carry out development work.
This absence of funding has seen sport development in the country lagging.
This is evidenced by lack of world-class or internationally approved competition venues and equipment.
Recently, Zimbabwe failed to host the Zone VI All-Africa Games qualifiers for volleyball because the country could not meet the minimum requirement of having two indoor venues fitted with the required floor – either wooden or fitted with a synthetic surface.
The competition was eventually held in South Africa.
This absence of the required competition venues results in sub-standard preparations.
This is so because the athletes are not subjected to their competitions conditions resulting in poor acclimatisation and below par performance during the actual competition.
“More money needs to come into sport to enable national and provincial associations carryout development work and adequately prepare our national teams if we are to realise good results as a country,” said Zimbabwe Volleyball Association secretary-general Ringisai Mapondera.
The issue of sporting facilities is a contentious one.
Hosting of the All-Africa Games in 1995 saw a lot of infrastructure being put up.
The infrastructure met international standards then but now in urgent need of upgrading to keep in step with today’s sporting requirements.
Most of the infrastructure built for the All-Africa Games then was handed over to local authorities or institutions on which it was built.
Its use has since changed with most of the venues now being used for musical shows, weddings and church gatherings at the expense of sporting activities.
“The churches and musical shows pay more money than sporting events so they are given preference on purely economic basis,” said a municipal worker at the City Sports Centre in Harare.
The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and the Sport and Recreation Commission take care of teams that qualify for the All-Africa Games and the Olympics.
They have told national associations to ensure that their teams or athletes qualify and they will take up the bill.
This has resulted in most team disciplines failing to qualify or even participate in the qualifiers due to lack of resources.
Companies have not been forthcoming with resources owing to a number of reasons, the main ones being poor performance in the economy and lack of tax incentives from central Government.
The finance ministry has not made sport sponsorship a tax-deductible expense.
This has seen companies holding on to their funds.
But veteran sports administrator and vice-chairperson of the Sports Commission Board, Edward Siwela, says the blame should rest squarely on sporting association administrators.
“The first stage is to professionalise sport association administration. Without professional administrators, one cannot expect the corporate sector or central Government to pour funds into sport.
“This means that the sporting associations have a responsibility to ensure that their office bearers are competent, honourable, and professional people capable of adding value to their organisation and not just being in office on the basis of being vociferous,” said Siwela.
Once sporting associations are professionally run, Siwela reckons the next stage will be the professionalisation of the sport itself and developing into a full-fledged industry capable of generating its own resources. Can professionalising sport become reality in Zimbabwe?
Generally, sport is defined as organised, competitive, entertaining, and skillful activity requiring commitment, strategy, and fair play, in which winners are defined objectively by means of a clear set of rules and or customs.
From the definition, it is clear that the bases for sport are strong organisations, competition, and skill and above all, should provide entertainment.
Everyone has a role to play in this equation.
Once sport business encompasses the entertainment aspect, then the crowds will follow and so will publicity and benefits from advertising.
This will create a win-win situation between the corporate sector and the sporting associations.
The sporting associations will boast of having crowds at their games and will have this product to sell to the advertiser who is always willing to capture the attention of the public and ultimately the glare of television and media who will be dying to have content.
Government needs to create an enabling environment by putting in place deliberate policies that will entice corporate bodies into channeling resources into sport.
In return, Government will recoup the loss in direct taxes from these companies through tax from the sporting sector that will have joined the many other sectors contributing economically through employment creation and related support services and merchandising among others.
Clearly, everyone has a role to play in making sport great in Zimbabwe.
Get up, grab the bull by the horns and let’s build the Great Zimbabwe Sport nation.