Kaizer Chiefs seek postponement
Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed correspondence from the Confederation of African Football relating to their ‘abandoned’ fixture against Wydad but have reverted with a new request.
Chiefs have written back to CAF to request that their rescheduled fixture against Wydad Athletic Club be postponed to a later date due to “a few impediments”.
The continental footballing body have confirmed that the CAF Champions League Group C fixture between Amakhosi and Wydad has been set for Friday evening in Cairo, Egypt.
However, the Soweto giants have responded with a letter of their own stating that they cannot honour the new date due to travel logistics and bureaucracy issues.
“The emailed letter received suggests that the game between the two teams be replayed on Friday, 19 February at Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, Egypt,” read a statement on Chiefs’ website.
“Chiefs have since responded to the letter, citing a few impediments that will hinder us from honouring the proposed new fixture date, which is in three days’ time.
“The two main reasons are visa challenges and travel logistics. Given the three days’ notice to play the match, the club will still face the similar challenges from the Egyptian Embassy because it takes a minimum of seven working days to get approval for visas that will enable us to travel to Egypt.
“Securing flights at this late hour will also pose a challenge given that some airlines are not operational due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“Based on the above, this may have a negative impact on the Champions League game against Horoya AC scheduled for Tuesday, 23 February 2021.
“The club then proposed that the game be played at a later stage, as this will enable us to honour all the Champions League games on 23 February and 5 March.”
The Glamour Boys further confirmed that their DStv Premiership match against AmaZulu this afternoon will go ahead as scheduled.
“Meanwhile, Chiefs will on Wednesday, 17 February face AmaZulu in a DStv Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium,” the club concluded.
THE call for the return of football in the country has intensified with footballers and coaches joining the campaign.
The campaign, running under the hashtag #BringBackFootball, has taken social media by storm with prominent figures adding their voices.
Zimbabwe has gone for over a year without domestic action owing to the coronavirus pandemic and there has been a raging debate on whether the country is ready for a restart.
The country is among the few countries that are yet to resume football, with capacity to handle and meet covid-19 requirements cited as reasons.
Other sporting disciplines - like cricket - have on some instances given the nod to host domestic tournaments but that has not been the case with football.
A proposed mini-league could not proceed last year after a proposal by Zifa was ‘shot down’.
And in a move meant to put pressure on football chiefs in the country, stakeholders seem to have joined hands to call them to action.
There has not been a clear roadmap from Zifa and the Premier Soccer League on the future of football - the country’s most popular sport.
The Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) has tracked a number of players and coaches to hear
their views on the current situation.
The video has seen endorsement across the local football fraternity.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza was blunt that is it time football chiefs work on the return of football.
“I think it’s important for football to resume in
Frank Makarati
the country as you are aware that most of the footballers are breadwinners in their families.
“And I think if we are going to go for another year without football in the country I think it’s going to affect families. So I am appealing to Zifa to make sure football resumes in the country,”
said Mapeza.
Dynamos defender Frank Makarati said they cannot afford to go for another year without football.
“It’s very sad for us, we can’t go another year without football, they should help us return to work, football is our profession #BringbackourFootball,” said Makarati.
CAPS United winger Tatenda Tumba said football is their source of income.
“Football must be given a greenlight to resume, as players we need money to survive our families depend on football, this is our job we can’t go for another year without playing football, please bring back our football #bringBackFootball,” said Tumba.
Former footballer Leonard Tsipa weighed in:
“Football must be given a greenlight to resume, players need money to survive and none of the better teams in Africa and Europe will come and sign a player from Zimbabwe because they were not playing for the past one year.”
Flame Lily Queens player Majory Nyaumwe said:
“I think everyone, not just me but all sports people are affected.”
“I just want to tell those in charge of football to help us resume football. Football is our profession and we want them to help and us make it safe for us,” said Dynamos captain Partson Jaure.
Ngezi Platinum midfielder Devon Chafa wrote: “Football is not just a means of entertainment to some of us it is a way of life.Without football you are depriving us of our happiness. #BringBackFootball”