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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
PREMIERSHIP champions Dynamos and their league rivals FC Platinum face ZIFA sanctions after the Sport and Recreation Commission yesterday directed the association to penalise them for withdrawing players from Team Zimbabwe to the African Games competition on the 11th hour. Dynamos and FC Platinum threw the Young Warriors squad into disarray when they withdrew a combined five players from the 20-man side just a few hours before the team’s scheduled departure for Congo Brazzaville on Monday night. That move also cost the Team Zimbabwe management a $9 740 penalty from the airlines and the Sports Commission yesterday ordered ZIFA to crack the whip on their affiliate clubs.

Sport and Recreation Commission communications manager, Tirivashe Nheweyembwa, said the actions by Dynamos and FC Platinum smacked of lack of patriotism and an appreciation of the support that government has been rendering to football. Nheweyembwa said although the African Games tournament was not on the FIFA calendar, it was not an excuse for Dynamos and FC Platinum to snub national duty.

“While it is appreciated that the African Games are not on the FIFA calendar, we must place patriotism at the centre of what we do as a nation and football clubs are not an exception in this endeavour. “The football competition will be run by CAF in Brazzaville so why are the clubs snubbing national duty. Are they out to embarrass us?

“In June this year, Azerbaijan hosted the first ever European Games and all the nations proudly participated in those Games and there was no talk of countries failing to send teams because their clubs had refused with athletes. “Mind you these athletes are paid than ours but they had to put their countries first so why is it that there is no such patriotism within our football clubs,’’ Nheweyembwa said.

The Sports Commission spokesman said the supreme sports body could not sanction Dynamos and FC Platinum as they do not deal directly with clubs. “ZIFA is the one which is supposed to sanction its affiliates for snubbing national duty. Clubs must realise that these Games are meant to celebrate African solidarity with fellow Africans and their action is contrary to the objectives of the Games.

“Football is also the biggest recipient of government support and is this how they pay back the government?’’ Nheweyembwa said. Dynamos withdrew the pair of goalkeeper and stand-in Young Warriors skipper Tatenda Mukuruva and midfielder Carlos Rusere while FC Platinum recalled defender Kelvin Moyo and midfielders Marshal Mudehwe and Gerald Takwara.

The two sides are set to clash in a Premiership tie at Mandava on September 12.

With five out of the 20 players being withdrawn, coach Callisto Pasuwa and his assistant Nation Dube had to run around and look for late replacements with the coaches settling for such players like Abel Gwatidzo of Northern Region Division One outfit Gunners and the Harare City trio of Tatenda Munditi, Diro Nyenye and Emmanuel Takawira.

Meanwhile, hosts Congo are understood to be working round the clock to deliver a memorable 11th African Games. Congo also hosted the inaugural Games in 1965. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the quadrennial games, the Congolese government has injected more than 400 billion Francs CFA into the construction of facilities of international standards towards a the hosting of a successful event.

The construction of the Kintele Sports Complex lasted 28 months.

Revised Young Warriors squad:
Moyo Blessing, Tonha Praise, Konono Jimmy, Mpelele Pritchard, Gaki Malvin, Mhlanga Lawrence, Mawaya Takabva, Masuku Nqobizitha, Kutinyu Raphael, Madhanhanga Farai, Hadebe Teenage, Chipunza Tichaona, Mutizwa Knox, Donovan Bernard, Sibanda Mgcini Pritchard, Tatenda Munditi, Tinovimba Muskwe, Emmanuel Takawira, Diro Nyenye, Abel Gwatidzo