The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Football Association has blamed Harare City FC’s lack of professionalism as the reason why Zimbabwe will not be represented in the 2018 Total Confederation Cup.
Zifa communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela said it was sad that the country will not be participating in the second tier continental club competition which roars into life during the second weekend of February 2018.
“It’s sad that we will be missing at next year’s edition of the Confederation Cup,” said the Zifa spokesperson. Harare City secured a place in next year’s Total Confederation Cup after clinching the 2017 edition of Chibuku Super Cup in November.
As winners of the tournament, The Sunshine Boys were awarded an automatic ticket to represent the country in the African Safari. Determined for their second dance in Africa, Harare City confirmed their participation with the local football mother body before Confederation of Africa Football club’s registration deadline of November 30. The club then made a somersault a few days before the preliminary round draw was conducted, living no room for a replacement for the country.
“Harare City advised that they had no capacity to participate in the competition after we had already registered them hence we had to advice Caf before the draw of their withdrawal from the tournament.
“It was very unprofessional for Harare City to confirm with us that indeed they will participate and then withdraw after we had registered them in the system,” said the Zifa spokesperson. He said the developments at the council owned team was a cause for concern and ZIFA will in future tighten screws on local football clubs in 2018 to create a professional environment.
“We have been urging clubs to adhere to the club licensing system, and professionalism is what Club Licensing aims to achieve.
“We can avoid such scenarios in future if clubs fully embrace the wonderful club licensing model,” he said. Fourteen countries failed to provide representatives for the 2018 Total Confederation Cup tournament.
