Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE countdown to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals has begun, with less than 80 days left before the continental football showpiece kicks off in Morocco.
Zimbabwe will make their sixth appearance at the biennial tournament in December, amid growing calls from various sectors for unity and belief within the football fraternity.
While ZIFA president, Nqobile Magwizi, has been at the forefront, galvanising the nation to rally behind the national team, ZimSports4ED have added their voice, throwing their support behind the Warriors, who will play Egypt, South Africa and Angola in Group B.
“Sport is a unifier, so we must all unite and rally behind the Warriors as they prepare for another AFCON appearance,” said ZimSports4ED chairperson, Gabriel Togarepi.
“Yes, the Warriors have not been producing good results lately, but they remain our national hope, our only hope, so let’s all rally behind the boys who will fly our flag high in Morocco.
“As ZimSports4ED, we believe the AFCON finals are a perfect stage for our players to market themselves and possibly earn good moves to established leagues in Europe and beyond.”
ZimSports4ED is a Government initiative aimed at promoting sport for economic development, identifying grassroots talent, and combating drug abuse among youths.
The programme, which has been endorsed by President Mnangagwa, seeks to professionalise and commercialise sport and turn it into a viable career path.
ZimSports4ED held its inaugural tournament on September 20 in Harare where hundreds of athletes converged at Lord Malvern High School and competed in different sporting disciplines including soccer, netball, volleyball, karate and boxing.
The event was held in commemoration of the Munhumutapa Day which coincides with President Mnangagwa’s birthday.
Tournaments of this nature will spread across the country’s 10 provinces.
“The programme speaks to a lot of aspects. It emphasises on the need to identify and nurture talent from a young age, targeting previously marginalized and hard to reach areas.
“As you are aware, drug and substance abuse has become a menace to society and we believe sport could be key in combating this scourge because sport provides opportunities.
“We need a mindset shift and seriously consider sport as a viable career. In the same vein, there is a need to align sports with school curriculum, so that those youngsters who are talented are given opportunities to develop from an early age.
“There is also a need to advocate for more sports scholarships for talented youngsters,” Togarepi told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
He added: “If treated as a business opportunity that it is, sport can transform the lives of many people in Zimbabwe.
“Right now, we have our boys preparing to go to the AFCON finals where they will share the same stage with global stars like Mohamed Salah of Egypt.
“This is a big opportunity, not only for the players but for Zimbabwe as a country, because the world will be watching.”
Zimbabwe will open their AFCON finals campaign with a date against Egypt, winners of a record seven tournaments, at Adrar Stadium in Agadir on December 22.
Four days later, the Warriors will clash against Angola at Marrakesh before wrapping their group fixtures with the Limpopo Derby against South Africa on December 29.
