No shortcuts to Zimbabwe’s return to international football
There will not be any shortcuts to Zimbabwe’s return to the world football parish amid growing expectation in Harare that the FIFA ban will be lifted in a ‘few weeks’.
The world football governing body, FIFA, says some boxes must be ticked before the February 2022 suspension is lifted.
FIFA REITERATES CONDITIONS MUST BE MET
Zimbabwe has not participated in international competitions for the last 16 months due to the FIFA sanctions.
The Warriors would have been in Group K of the 2024 AFCON qualifiers alongside South Africa, Morocco and Liberia.
However, they have had to watch from the sidelines due to the ban. FIFA has since told FARPost that they will continue on the sidelines if their conditions are not met.
“FIFA has been working with the local authorities on the lift of the relevant sanction. As soon as the conditions will be met, a decision will be taken by the FIFA Council accordingly, and an official communication to ZIFA will follow,” FIFA told FARPost.
Among the conditions set by Fifa is the reversal of the Sports and Recreation Commission’s decision to suspend the board led by Felton Kamambo.
ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT OPTIMISTIC
Speaking at a workshop for top-flight clubs in Harare last week, sports minister Kirsty Coventry was optimistic.
“We are on the right track. In the next three weeks, we are going to take a big step,” she said.
Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Marshall Munetsi has previously described the FIFA ban as sad and frustrating.
His Warriors teammates Onisimor Bhasera, George Chigova and Divine Lunga have also lamented the inactivity.
Zimbabwe was suspended for what was termed ‘third party interference’ following the decision made by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) to suspend the Felton Kamambo-led ZIFA board.
The Gerald Mlotshwa-led SRC wielded the axe on the Kamambo-led administration for several violations, chief among them failure to account for public funds.
Story by Makomborero Mutimukulu
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