Zimpapers to hold football indaba

Fungai Muderere

ZIMPAPERS Bulawayo branch’s weekly publication Sunday News will tomorrow hold a football indaba in the City of Kings and Queens.

The event came to being two weeks ago when Sunday News were having a discussion on how soccer violence could be curbed with directors of a leading security company, Nokel in Bulawayo.

According to the organisers of the event, the football ‘indaba’ that is meant to discuss ways to fight football violence will be held under the theme: “Tackling Football Violence To Ensure Social Cohesion.”

The topics that are going to be discussed include causes of football violence, football as a business and  employer, football and nation building, event management and stakeholder mandate, football fans experiences, testimonies and men’s perspective on football violence.

Zifa have cleared stakeholders who are affiliates to attend the event as every member of the ecosystem matters in trying to find ways to safer stadia environments.

It was revealed that the speakers at the indaba will include Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele, Nhlanhla Dube and Mighty Warriors legend and Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) Women’s League representative Fungai Mpfeka

The moderators will be Sunday News Editor Limukani Ncube and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s (ZBC) Hilton Mavise.
“The event will start with speakers then end with open discussions to come up with resolutions and way forward to end football violence.

The event will be live streamed on Zimpapers social media platforms,” said Zimpapers Sports Hub, Bulawayo Co-ordinator, Lovemore Dube.

Football violence is a cancer that is disturbing community peace and social cohesion at the same time destroying the sport that is mostly followed in the country. In late August, a match pitting Highlanders and Dynamos, was abandoned amid crowd trouble.

This was reportedly orchestrated by fans on the Soweto End who protested a referee’s decision not to award their team a penalty when they were already down 2-0 in the first stanza.