Zim to host 2014 Cosafa Challenge

Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE has been named the host of next year’s Cosafa’s Senior Men’s Challenge. The decision was made at the just-ended Cosafa Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held in Lesotho during the Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships.Zifa vice-president, Ndumiso Gumede, who represented the country’s football governing authority at the regional AGM, said Cosafa felt Zimbabwe has played host to several successful editions of Cosafa competitions and was granted the opportunity to host next year’s tourney.

Gumede said they accepted the offer and will now be seeking Government guarantees for hosting the tournament.
“As Zifa our only financial commitment that we are supposed to make is towards the local transport costs. The rest of the bills will be borne by Cosafa, who are sponsored by South Africa Breweries.

“We were urged to seek local partners that would come on board and assist us with the costs just like how Metropolitan Insurance and Standard Bank came in as local sponsors for the Cosafa Under-20 Championships,” he said.

Gumede said dates for the tournament are yet to be set but the feeling was it should be played before the World Cup commences in Brazil in June.

The experienced football administrator said they are also still to decide whether to play the tourney in two cities or restrict it to the capital.

“We are not sure if we are going to host the games in Harare and Bulawayo or just Harare. This will be determined by the availability of funds. If we are unable to get enough funding we will just have to play all the matches in the capital.

“We obviously have to look at the logistical challenges such as having to provide practice grounds for all the 16 participating teams without a roster or schedule to share few stadiums, a situation that might inconvenience the teams,” he said.

This year’s edition was held in Zambia, with Zimbabwe making it into the final where they lost 2-0 to the hosts. Zimbabwe last played host to the regional competition in 2009 with matches being played in Bulawayo and Harare.

The Warriors have won the Cosafa tournament four times, like Zambia. Zimbabwe won it in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2009 while Zambia were champions in 1997, 1998, 2006 and this year.