Bio-bubble : More questions than answers

20 Sep, 2020 - 00:09 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Langton Nyakwenda

THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) is confident the proposed bio-bubble concept will work, while the ZIFA board met yesterday to finalise modalities for football’s safe return.

However, some top-flight clubs are still not clear on who will bear the costs of such a move.

Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry recently suggested to ZIFA that the game could safely return through using the bio-bubble concept, which involves clubs camping in a safe environment with no contact with the outside world.

It would also mean Covid-19 tests will be done regularly for players and officials.

Football has been on hold for the past six months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, there is now hope that the season could finally kick off, albeit in empty stadiums.

The ZIFA board met yesterday in the capital and football’s return was top of the agenda.

Although ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela declined to comment, a source confirmed that board members had a lengthy discussion on how football should return.

“There is no media update today,” Gwesela told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday.

It now seems inevitable for football to return, especially after CAF announced dates for the resumption of the 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifiers early this month.

Zimbabwe play Algeria away on November 9 before hosting the African champions on November 17.

League champions FC Platinum also have CAF fixtures in November.

PSL chief executive officer, Kennedy Ndebele, is confident football can return in October and believes the bio-bubble concept is the only way to go, at least for now.

“Yes, it (bio-bubble) will work. I am confident football can return in October,” said Ndebele.

There is a possibility of the PSL hosting a mini league based on regional location of the clubs to cut costs.

Some PSL board of governors want a tournament that will run between October and December.

“To start a complete season now is not proper given the time lost and also the availability of stadiums that can host matches in rainy conditions.

“What we have been pushing for is a tournament that runs up to December, then we break and start the normal season in February,” said one of the board members.

However, some club officials who spoke to The Sunday Mail Sport are not conversant with the proposed bio-bubble concept.

Others want clarity on who will pick up the tab that comes with the proposed health protocols.

“The organisers of all this should just come up with a sponsorship package for it to start. It can’t just be talked about and pushed to clubs,” said Chicken Inn secretary Tavengwa Hara.

“In any case, we should do what we can afford as a country. I hope the ministry which proposed the bio-bubble concept and ZIFA, who are pushing for resumption, will come up with sponsorship for all this to work,” said Hara.

Highlanders chief executive officer, Nhlanhla Dube, feels not much has been done to sell this concept to clubs.

“We need to understand the concept. There obviously are questions around what needs to be done for it to be a successful intervention.

“What costs are involved and how these would be financed and by whom,” said Dube.

“We can only be able to speak to it intelligently when these and other related questions are answered . . .

“It is, however, encouraging that there is now this level and form of conversation led by the authorities,” added Dube.

Herentals secretary, Fainos Madhumbu, hopes there will be financial support from either ZIFA or the Government.

“If ZIFA and the Government chip in with resources, l think it will work for now,” said Madhumbu.

There are also concerns about the preparedness of the country’s stadiums to host football matches as early as October.

A number of stadiums in the country have often failed local tests by the First Instance Board, while both the National Sports Stadium and Barbourfields remain banned by CAF from hosting international matches.

“The testing regime must be fool-proof. Covid-19 consumables must be available, sponsors must also be available.

“Transporters and stadia owners need to carry the budget for consumables so that clubs do not choke,” said a club official who requested anonymity.

“I see people have a negative attitude towards the bio-bubble concept, but for now that is the solution. The million-dollar question is: Who will cover the costs that come with this concept? Will it be the clubs, PSL, ZIFA or the Government?

“Accommodation costs will be high as players and officials have to camp at some secure place for a long time,” said another official.

Coaches who spoke to The Sunday Mail Sport do not believe it will be convenient for football to return in October.

“Players have been off duty for a very long time; it is now over six months, so what it means is that we will need to have a slightly longer pre-season training programme.

“We will need between six to eight weeks of training and conditioning of players before we can start proper football. October might be a little early. We risk having more injuries if we rush the preparatory programmes,” said a PSL club coach.

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