IT is good that Zimbabwean football has returned to the international football world but with sadness too that too many problems seem to be following that return.
Rarely these days do football fans wake up to good news but each passing day, there is something that triggers the thinking that there was no need for that immediate return after all.
In fact, the feeling persists that the Fifa suspension should have been longer to give us time to fix the myriad of problems we have and most importantly this issue of stadiums, and of course, the Warriors.
After one year on suspension, Zimbabwe should not have been having this problem of a match venue but now we hear — once again — that the Warriors could be playing their home matches in foreign lands in both Chan 2024 and 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Although we did not do anything during that period, we thought at least, the lifting of the ban would trigger serious action but sadly we are still where we were before we were suspended especially when it comes to the 60 000 seater stadium.
It would have been expected that by now Caf would have come and gone or at least would have been preparing for an inspection visit but unfortunately there is nothing to force them to leave Cairo for.
What is disturbing is that there seems to be no urgency at all in terms of dealing with the National Sports Stadium issue despite its ban which has left Zimbabwe without a venue for its national teams.
The question is : What exactly should the football fraternity do to knock sense into our government that the issue of the National Sports Stadium should be a priority ?
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Do they want disaster to occur during church or state gatherings to understand that this stadium is not in its right state ?
Or is it that they feel comfortable because the once-in-a-year state events are coming and passing by without incidents.
Maybe, the new crop of members of parliament who used football to ascend to their new standing can help push the stadium agenda for action to be initiated.
Surely, how can we let all the effort that the Sports and Recreation Commission spent in persuading Fifa just to pass by without the benefits intended ?
Our football fans do not earn much and cannot afford to travel to Botswana, South Africa or Zambia to watch their favourite team in action as events on the ground seem to suggest.
Even the Warriors themselves will not be able to perform to their fullest in an unfamiliar environment and in an unfamiliar pitch which puts their chances of World Cup qualification in danger.
What we do not understand is what exactly is the problem with work on the giant stadium ? Is it about money ? If not, then what exactly is it because the nation is fed up with one promise after the other.
We see that work is in progress and for that matter in advance at the City of Harare controlled Rufaro Stadium but surprisingly not at the National Stadium which is run by a higher and richer office.
Surely seriousness is something that Zimbabweans have never been known for but when it comes to the National Sports Stadium, we need to show a little bit of it.
- For your comments, views and suggestions mkariati@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 0773 266 779.
