ZIFA have set either August or September as the months for
the possible start of the domestic football season, pending authority from the
Government, CAF and FIFA, in what could be a conversion, by default, to the
calendar used predominantly in Europe.
CAF have also been realigning their football programme to
fit into the August-May calendar, something which the Premier Soccer League
here have been fighting for since Farai Jere became chairman two years ago.
Although the proposal by the top-flight league was rejected,
amid concern from the lower leagues that they had not been consulted fully and
the poor state of the stadia could complicate issues during the rainy season,
it appears the change is now attracting growing support.
Already, the Division One clubs have said that, if the
Covid-19 outbreak is contained, they will have no problems having their leagues
starting in August this year.
The domestic football programme, which was supposed to
start in March this year, has been paralysed by the Covid-19 outbreak which has
also halted sport around the world.
The ZIFA leaders held an emergency meeting on Sunday and
resolved that, should authorities give them the greenlight, local football will
start either in August or September this year.
‘‘In its meeting on May 3, 2020, the ZIFA Emergency
Committee also noted that other football associations were planning to resume
football operations around August/September 2020 and has tentatively set this
date as to when our leagues will commence should our Government announce the
complete end of the lockdown any day before the envisaged dates,’’ the
association said in a statement yesterday.
‘‘The resumption of football activities will also be done
in consultation with CAF and FIFA.
‘‘For ZIFA, should the season begin in September, (this)
will see us also aligning our football calendar with the rest of the world.’’
However, there could be changes to the global football
calendar.
FIFA vice-president, Victor Montagliani, at the weekend
hinted that moving the European football season to the calendar year, where the
leagues start in February or March and are completed at the end of the year,
was a “possibility to be discussed”.
He told Italy’s Radio Sportiva this was one of the
possibilities they needed to look at in the wake of the damage inflicted by
coronavirus and the need to ensure everything fits into the 2022 World Cup set
for Qatar in November and December.
Montagliani is considered to be a very close ally of FIFA
president Gianni Infantino.
“We have the opportunity because the World Cup in Qatar in
2022 will be played in November/December and that could be the idea,” said
Montagliani, who is president of the CONCACAF confederation.
“Here in the Americas, the season is already played
according to the calendar year, perhaps it is a solution that could also be
used in Europe and Africa, it is a possibility to be discussed at national and
continental level.
“It is not an idea to be discarded, it can be a solution in
view of the next two years and this winter World Cup.
“We had already started thinking about how to set a new
calendar from 2024, now with this crisis we need immediate answers.’’
The ZIFA leaders said they were confident football will
resume soon so the game could play a big part in healing the nation which has
been badly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
‘‘ZIFA is confident that football action will return soon
to play its part in the healing and resuscitating our beautiful nation,’’ the
statement said. ‘‘The threat posed by the virus is real and we advise all
stakeholders to remain vigilant and patient as the battle against Covid-19
draws to an inevitable end.
‘‘ZIFA is indebted to many football stakeholders both
institutional and individuals who have used their role model appeal to reach
out to the public with messages of hope and advice on how to fight the pandemic
with some going to the extent of raising financial and material assistance to
fight the scourge. This show of unity is unparalleled and must be commended.’’
The ZIFA emergency committee also came up with packages to
try and help domestic football which is in distress after being hit by the
Covid-19 outbreak.
‘‘Further and as part of the resolutions, the Executive
Committee also approved submissions from the finance committee and directed as
follows:
i) ZIFA to pay on behalf of our affiliate members sportsman
levy due to the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) for 24 500 registered
athletes and officials. The disbursements to the SRC (Sport and Recreation
Commission) to be done immediately.)
ii) It was also resolved that due to Covid-19 the top 80
referees to be paid an allowance of $2 000.00 each since some of them were not
formally employed.
iii) Moreover, the Emergency Committee also authorised the
disbursements of an Administration grant to all affiliate members to help
mitigate the Covid19 effects. The quantum of the grant per affiliate is
equivalent to the 2020 subscription fees paid or payable by the respective
affiliate.
‘‘The grant will be immediately disbursed to all paid-up
members and will be deducted from ZIFA administration operations budget for
2020. In order to ensure all affiliates benefit, those who have not yet paid
their affiliation will have their grant set off against their dues to ZIFA at
which point they will be deemed fully paid up. ZIFA hopes that the money,
though not sufficient, will go a long way to assist the members.
‘‘The Executive Committee continues to pursue other means
to alleviate the suffering during and post Covid-19 for all its
stakeholders. There was also
clarification, from the association, which said the relaxation by the
Government of the lockdown conditions did not mean football in the country
could resume.
‘‘The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to advise
all football stakeholders that football activities remain suspended until
further notice,’’ the association said.
‘‘As is the norm, the path to normalcy shall be derived
from the policies implemented by the Government of the Republic and guidance
from CAF and FIFA.
“The Association in supporting the Government decision
notes that the only important issue at the moment is the safety and health of
all football stakeholders and the nation as a whole. We derive confidence from
Government’s containment measures which demonstrate that there is progress in
the nation’s fight against Covid-19.’’ Herald
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