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Jonathan Mashingaidze

EMBATTLED ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze has defended the decision to pursue their failed bid to host the 2017 Nations Cup finals and blasted those who questioned their move, including the local media, as prophets of doom. The national football governing body has come under severe pressure and criticism, with some labelling their bid to try and replace Libya as hosts of the 2017 AFCON finals, which was thrown out at the first hurdle, as an embarrassment to the nation.

Mashingaidze led the ambitious, if not impossible drive, to try and bring the 2017 Nations Cup to Zimbabwe, travelling to Zambia and Botswana, hoping to get into bed with the two countries, who chose not to bid for the tournament.
The ZIFA chief executive also went to Cairo, Egypt, to submit the bid.

A number of media outlets and journalists had warned that ZIFA were on a wild goose chase, an exercise tantamount to sinking money down the drain in their pursuit of the rights to win the 2017 Nations Cup finals.

CAF confirmed the journalists’ fears when they said the bid submitted by Zimbabwe was “not in compliant with the set criteria”, a savage attack on the package put together by ZIFA and their partners to try and bring the 2017 Nations Cup finals to this country.
Bids by Sudan and Kenya were also thrown out by the CAF leaders.

Algeria, Egypt, Gabon and Ghana passed the first test and the CAF Executive Committee will decide who will host the tournament.
Yesterday, Mashingaidze said they had a right to pursue their dream, even though it cost a lot of money and was doomed to fail from the start.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to set the record straight regarding the failed 2017 AFCON bid,” said Mashingaidze.

“As a member association of the Confederation of African Football, ZIFA had every right to respond to CAF’s call for bid document presentations.
“This was not the first time for Zimbabwe to bid for the right to host a mega event since the country has in the past hosted editions of CECAFA in 1985, the 1995 All-Africa games and the COSAFA Cup in 2009 and 2011 with unquestionable distinction.

“The 2017 AFCON bid was a result of a force majeure and ZIFA, together with the Government, saw it opportune for Zimbabwe to throw the dice.”
By submitting the bid, ZIFA said they hoped the Government and local authorities were going to take initiatives and improve the facilities around the country.
“Prophets of doom and pessimists, who never believed in the project, rubbished the combined efforts of all stakeholders behind the bid, but they ignored the fact that football has the potential to bring the nation together towards national development hence repositioning Zimbabwe through football,” said Mashingaidze.

“All persons involved in the bidding process were aware of the hurdles, but we remain disciples of the old adage ‘bear defeat, but never lose heart’.
“Before crucifying ZIFA, it is also important for the nation to remember that Zimbabwe once won the right to host AFCON in 2000 even though the grant was relinquished at the last minute.

“We should have unity of purpose as a nation and desist from finger pointing, name calling and branding ZIFA as ‘embarrassing the nation.’”
While ZIFA went ahead, with submitting their bid even after it became clear that CAF would only consider those countries who had hosted the tournament before, and who were ready to host today if they were asked to do so, the Ethiopians saw the light and withdrew.

Maybe, Mashingaidze could draw lessons from the way the Ethiopians handled their assignment and decided not to go ahead with their bid.
Ethiopian Football Federation president Junedin Basha did their homework and told SuperSport that they talked to various CAF executive members and it became clear to them that pursuing the mission to host the 2017 Nations Cup was a doomed adventure.

“We had wanted to put up a bid, but after several discussions with CAF Executives we decided to shelve the plans and prepare for 2020 CHAN and 2025 since we are not yet ready with the infrastructure that includes stadiums which are still under construction,” said Basha.

“It’s important to note that the 2017 bid was specific for countries that have managed to host top football tournaments and have existing facilities which we don’t have.

“It is one thing to just put a bid and it’s another thing altogether having a serious bid that has met all specifications.
“And after advice from CAF executives, which we found to be very positive, we decided, as a federation, not to bid for 2017 and I can say no East African country has a realistic chance since Ethiopia was the last country to host in the early 60s.

“We understand so many Ethiopians have dreams of such a big football tournament but it’s also important to prepare well and avoid heartbreak from a failed bid that is why it was important not to present any bid, but focus on the bigger picture.” — Sports Reporter/Sportszone.