Zimbabwe could give local football, rugby green light this week

Zimbabwe could give the green light to high risk sports to resume this week, according to reports quoting the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).

Various sources say SRC chairperson, Gerald Mlotshwa, has indicated that the body could allow sports such as football and rugby to resume from Thursday if they show their capacity – financially and administratively – to do so. This is after the SRC said all protocols for the National Sports Associations concerned had been sent out.

This is said to have come from a meeting of commissioners on Monday.

Key is that Dr Allen Chirau, who is the chairperson of the SRC Covid committee, said that the bubble concept is not included in the protocols due to cost issues. As such, the SRC is lobbying government for vaccination to compliment protocols. Clubs will also be required to have Covid Compliance Officers.

Football and other high-risk sports could resume as early as Thursday says @ZimbabweSrc -if they show that they are ready.
Also from SRC chair Gerald Mlotshwa and Dr Allen Chiura:
Bio-bubble too costly for Zim
Looking at govt access to vaccine
Clubs need Covid compliance officer pic.twitter.com/fYwFhTw3ke
— Steve Vickers (@SteveVickers5) March 15, 2021

Zimbabwe football has not seen competitive action in local leagues since 2019. Last season was completely wiped out with no football played, save for the curtain raising NetOne Charity Shield between FC Platinum and Highlanders.

The big pause coincided with that of the rest of the world due to worldwide lockdowns and other restrictions.

Other countries resumed their high risk sporting activities but Zimbabwe only allowed sports such as cricket and golf to do so.

The worry for Zimbabwe football will be around sponsorship issues and the fact that many clubs rely on gate takings. With matches likely to be played without fans for the foreseeable future, it will mean that the country’s most popular sport might still be hamstrung.

Rugby had started some training last year before the hard lockdown in January and February. This was in expectation of competitive action this year. It remains to be seen what they will do.