ZIFA announced on Monday that The Warriors will host Benin in their Group J 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier in Durban. The match will be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium on March 20, after which the senior men's national football team will travel to Nigeria for its next assignment of the same qualifier.
Zimbabwe currently sits at the bottom of the table with just two points to show for their efforts.
Zifa hit the ground running to secure a venue and make the necessary arrangements. The football association sent coach Michael Nees, Zifa board member Brighton Ushendibaba and veteran football administrator Cuthbert Chitima to South Africa to inspect and secure a venue.
While we commend Zifa for its efforts, this serves as a stark reminder to government that the need for a stadium good enough to host international matches is urgent.
Zimbabwe planned to return to Polokwane, where they hosted Kenya in November in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Their plans were scuttled by South Africa, who are in the same Group after Bafana Bafana chose to play their match in Polokwane.
This left Zimbabwe with no option but to look elsewhere.
It is embarrassing for the nation that The Warriors can't play their matches at home and that they have to scout around for a venue every international window.
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Government has made promises and set targets and deadlines that it has failed to meet.
It seems the government is failing to appreciate the urgency of the stadium situation.
Surely, a whole government cannot or should not struggle with the small matter of refurbishing at least one stadium.
We have seen a few bucket seats that were donated by Sakunda Holdings being installed at the National Sports Stadium. Except those few seats, nothing seems to be happening at the stadium.
We have been told that Yadah Football Club owner Walter Magaya, has offered to sponsor a new pitch in the stadium. We implore the government to pursue that offer and get the stadium ready at least for the next set of matches in June.
The Mighty Warriors will host Angola in Pretoria for their WAFCON qualifier. That compromises their chances of qualifying. The same goes for The Warriors, who need all the points against Benin to resuscitate their World Cup dream.
It would have been helpful if they were to play that match in front of their fervent fans.
Given that Zimbabwe will be playing South Africa this year in the World Cup qualifiers, if the government continues with its lackadaisical approach to the sprucing up of the National Sports Stadium, it means we might have to host South Africa in South Africa. That is not acceptable.
Government must change its attitude towards this pressing issue and give it the attention it deserves?
