The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporters
DYNAMOS coach Tonderai Ndiraya is exhorting organisers of the President’s Uhuru Cup final, which will be played against rivals Highlanders at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, for permission for teams to use more than the standard number of substitutes for the match.
The Harare giants began their 2021 pre-season training at Prince Edward yesterday ahead of the cup assignment, which marks the restart of football in the country after a lengthy Covid-19-induced sabbatical.
Premiership clubs resumed group training after conducting Covid-19 PCR tests last week, with the DeMbare players and staff subsequently being vaccinated at Wilkins Hospital.
Yadah Stars are the only side still to test players amid a cloud of uncertainty that has often hovered around the club at the start of each season.
“We can confirm that a total of 17 out of the 18 Premier League teams have done their PCR tests. It is only Yadah Stars that is yet to conduct its tests,” said PSL communications officer Kudzai Bare.
With clubs being given the greenlight after conducting tests ahead of the official start of the season on May 15, for Dynamos and Highlanders it will be one week of training before they plunge into battle in a match that will be part of commemorations of the country’s 41st Independence anniversary on April 18.
Ndiraya is, however, worried about the impact of sending his troops into battle after a week of training following a period of more than one year of inactivity.
He wants organisers to allow both teams to use more than the stand three substitutes per match.
“The guys are coming from a long layoff, hence we had to see what the levels of fitness the players are in between today (yesterday) and tomorrow (today) before we start serious preparations for the season on Monday,” said Ndiraya.
“We understand that we have a game next week, and the match is being played in the first week of our pre-season, and we wouldn’t have done much in gaining fitness.
“By the time we play the match, we would be around 5 to 10 percent fit. We are appealing to the organisers to allow us to use as many players as possible so that we do not pick up unnecessary injuries as a result of lack of match fitness.”
Despite being wary of injuries, Ndiraya is aware of the job at hand against Highlanders, as bragging rights take centre stage when the two sides clash.
“The Battle of Zimbabwe has always been psychological, but the good thing is that we meet with the same level of fitness, so we do not have any excuses; we have to do the best we can.
“It is an important match for us as we celebrate our Independence and also bragging rights are at stake. We would not want to lose to Highlanders especially,” he said.
Encouraging
The PSL are pleased by the general clean bill of health after the coronavirus tests.
Clubs were also commended for their commitment as they used their own resources to undertake the tests.
“We are happy with how the tests went, and everything seems to be going according to plan ahead of our scheduled start of the season on May 15.
“It was pleasing that the teams undertook the tests using their own resources. It showed how committed they are to see the return of football,” said Bare.
Regular testing, she added, will be conducted by clubs during pre-season.
PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele also said discussions between the top-flight body and broadcasters were encouraging.
“We have achieved a lot by getting most of the clubs (17) to test and group training resumed this week.
“We are very happy that some clubs have embarked on vaccination
“We spent the week engaging key stakeholders; there is buy-in and huge excitement.
“We engaged broadcasters and we are happy that there is buy-in,’’ Ndebele said.
The PSL drew up a 12-page proposal on the safe return of the game that was adopted by the elite clubs.
“The PSL secretariat, in consultation with the PSL Sports Medicine Committee, will lead and implement Covid-19-related decisions on return to sport.
“Teams will be placed in groups and participate in the competition to be hosted by four cities, these provisionally being Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Zvishavane.
“Players will train and play football matches coming from their respective basis,” read part of the proposal.
In terms of guidelines provided by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) on the resumption of medium- to high-risk football, ZIFA are expected to provide a Covid-19 compliance officer at each of the venues to be used by the PSL and the Women’s League, as well as the Division One leagues.
“Please note that the approval is a gradual resumption of training and local competitions only and you are required to make separate individual applications for regional, continental and international tournaments to the Minister through the SRC,” said part of the guidelines.
It has been agreed that all competitions — local, regional and continental — must be separately applied for 30 days before the event and approved by the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation through the SRC.
Further, regional, continental and international tours shall further be authorised by the Minister of Health and Child Care; PSL and Women PSL.
The plan was expected to begin with the PSL and Women PSL training for one month, after which PSL and Women PSL competitive leagues would resume after 30 days of training.
“ZIFA would also provide fixtures schedules with venues and designated Covid-19 compliance officer for each venue,’’ added part of the communication from the SRC.
