Zimpapers Logo

Grace Chingoma, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN players plying their trade in Zambia are likely to return to action soon after authorities there proposed a resumption of the season from next month.

But, the delayed domestic football programme appears to be a long way off from starting, with the August/September kick-off now looking unlikely.

The entire Zimbabwean football calendar was halted, weeks before the start of the season in March, as part of measures to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.

There had been hope that the season could start either in August or September and be completed in May next year.

However, that now seems unlikely after football was not one of the sporting codes provided with a window of hope, for resumption by the Sports and Recreation Commission on Sunday.

Football, just like rugby, is a contact sport and given the tough conditions, which the low-risk sports have to satisfy, even for a resumption of training, the national game could be a long way off the radar in terms of resumption of its activities.

And, even if a window is opened for just non-contact training, the local clubs could find it difficult to satisfy the tough conditions prescribed by both the Government and FIFA for a return to action.

While they could eventually find a way to do that, expecting the clubs to complete testing of all their personnel, would be a tough call.

A FIFA working group has been examining medical considerations for football to return at all levels throughout the world.

Last month, FIFA set up a panel with a medical/scientific representative of each of the six confederations to consider the risk assessments, and critical factors, required for football to resume safely.

According to the world football governing body, the draft was shared with an expert group within the World Health Organisation and the FIFA Medical Committee, for their recommendations.

However, FIFA say the current public health and social measures, which have varied from region to region, are not designed to be a complete and final strategy but, rather, an opportunity to buy time for an international and intersectoral collaboration between governments and health authorities to build the resources and systems required to test, trace and manage all the cases.

“The vast majority of football globally has been placed on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic,’’ FIFA said.

“However, football has health, social and economic benefits for the individual and society.

“FIFA, WHO and many governments collaborate to promote certain types of physical activity that can confer benefits on the immune system, physical health and mental health (as exemplified by the #BeActive campaign).

“It is anticipated that each confederation will have a designated medical/scientific representative who will advise on the processes required for football to resume safely.

“Football should only occur at a time when all health, social and economic benefits exceed the risks of Covid-19, while maximising the safety of athletes, staff, supporters and the wider society.

“It is of paramount importance that FIFA consider footballing activities to be secondary to the health of every individual.

“A focus on the physical and mental health of every individual globally should underpin any decisions made with regard to the global reintroduction of footballing activities.’’

While the domestic football programme remains in limbo, reports indicate the Football Association of Zambia have already submitted proposals to the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development for approval.

FAZ communications manager, Sydney Mungala, told the Zambian media that games in the top-tier leagues — the MTN FAZ Super League and the Eden University FAZ First National League — which have nine or ten rounds remaining, would take precedence over those in provincial leagues.

“The proposals project that leagues may commence in second half of July. The executive committee approved the proposal done by league manager in liason with FAZ office.

“The proposal is to have specific venues that would host these games.

“The venues will be suitable from a safety perspective and measures teams are expected to undertake once the league resumes.

“All these projections are subject to approval by the authorities. The proposal has been forwarded to Ministry of Sports, who will engage their counterparts at the Ministry of Health.’’ As of yesterday, Zambia had recorded 1 089 Covid-19 cases with 912 recoveries and seven deaths.

A growing number of Zimbabwean footballers ply their trade in Zambia.

They include Tafadzwa Rusike, Joel Ngodzo, Dominic Chungwa, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Jimmy Dzingai, Thabani Kamusoko, Nelson Mazivisa, Denis Dauda, Ali Sadiki, Winston Mhango, Farai Mususunye and Donald Teguru.