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Simba Jemwa, Sports Reporter

“It’s very sad to see what’s happening to our beautiful game of football in Zim, the ban on all our national and local teams from participating in international football competitions is a shame. It’s high time that our leaders or parties involved sit down and resolve all these. (Football) is being shattered by things that can be easily solved,” Tatenda Mukuruva, the former Warriors goalkeeper tweeted recently. 

This and other tweets by retired and active Zimbabwean footballers dotted across the world are a painful and stark reminder of Zimbabwe’s non participation in international football since the Fifa ban was effected. These tweets come at a time when the Gems, the Junior Sables and the Chevrons have been celebrated for their good runs in competitions they have been participating in.

Zimbabwean footballers have been in despair and uncertain about their international future after the FIFA ban saw the country stripped of participation in major tournaments and left its teams in limbo. The indefinite suspension has had an immediate negative impact on local football, from professional levels down to the grassroots.

In February, Fifa announced the banning of Zimbabwe and Kenya from all football activities organised by the federation. This meant Zimbabwe could not participate in sporting endeavours or benefit from Fifa grants. While the reasons for the ban have become a moot point to discuss, it is the effects that are now becoming glaringly obvious.

With the ban, the willingness to play football is slowly being reduced because potential players do not see a future in the game.

As the popular African proverb goes – the grass suffers when elephants fight. National teams from other sporting codes have defied scant investment to fill the glaring hole left by football and in the process they have gained more than muted recognition in a country better known for its frenzied obsession with football. Zimbabweans are now finding their sporting fix elsewhere.

In the last few months, we have seen success story after success story in netball, rugby and cricket. While football stands still, these sporting codes are being played on a regular and international competitions are now a regular staple.

While both parties – the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), for its stand against a corrupt association and Fifa for its unbending decision to allow football matters to be dealt with through football channels – can be justified in the actions that led to this moment, spare a thought for the innocent victims – the footballers!

Notable sports personalities, who include Member of Parliament and former Zifa vice president, Omega Sibanda, have been calling on the SRC to rescind its suspension of the Felton Kamambo-led board to allow the nation to return to the international fold. 

Sibanda has been advocating for the SRC to allow football statutes to rid football of corrupt figures.

“I am more worried about the technical development of the game if we remain in isolation for too long. Other sports are involved in international events and gaining experience and improving technically but football is stuck in a rut. The SRC was right in its oversight role, but now we all need to bend over backwards a little for the good of the game,” Sibanda told Chronicle Sport.

“We have to have our football nationals teams playing with others if we are to keep the game alive and growing,” he added.

 

The Fifa ban has seen the Warriors booted out of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and the Cosafa Women’s Champions League Qualifier. The country was also disqualified from the 2023 Afcon Qualifiers, 2022 Chan and the 2022 Cosafa Cup.

While football has had to deal with an unwanted freeze, other national teams have been making headlines for the right reasons. 

The Gems

Since the Fifa ban in February, the Gems have taken part in a couple of continental events including the ongoing Africa Netball World Cup Qualifiers that have added value to the technical quality of their players. These events have provided a platform for their players to thrive and showcase their individual skills in front of international potential suitors.

Junior Sables

The Junior Sables have been having a fantastic time!

The Zimbabwe Under-20 rugby team will have another dance at the World Rugby Junior Trophy next year after winning the 2022 Rugby Africa Barthes Trophy. The Junior Sables have been showing great spirit, playing like a beast on fire as they tear their way through international opposition. And to show the growth and development of the local game, Zimbabwe won a championship which they had last won in 2011.

The Chevrons

But perhaps the most telling sporting success while football is in limbo is the Chevrons story. Not only did they qualify for the International Cricket Council T20 World Cup which will be held in Australia, but they went on to sweep Bangladesh in two home series – the T20 and the One Day Internationals. These surprise victories gave the country something to smile about as sport fans continue to hope for a return to action by all our football national teams

@RealSimbaJemwa