By Sheldon Hakata and Golden Guvamatanga

THERE are many angles to the embarrassing banning of the country’s stadia by CAF, but whichever way one looks at the issue, the MDC-run councils cannot be exonerated from that debacle.

This is so especially when one considers the number of times that the local authorities were warned by the soccer fratenity in the country.

Instead of accepting the blame and doing their job, arrogance and unnecessary political bickering took the centre stage while the country’s image was dragged through the mud.

What emerges from this dreadful debacle is that football is now being used as the new regime change push.

The sport is not only emotive but brings the nation together.

It invokes the long lost spirit of unity.

From the foregoing, it does not require rocket science to note that the MDC-led councils deliberately ignored attending to the stadia in order to achieve two things; namely to embarrass the country and secondly, to antagonise the masses and turn them against the Government. 

And the timely intervention by Government on the potentially explosive stadia issues was confirmation that it is high time the authorities took over running of the local authorities across the country.

So many issues, too, arise from the above analysis.

Zimbabwe has a crucial encounter against one of the best sides on the African continent, Algeria.

The reigning African champions have arguably one of the most formidable outfits in modern history with English giants Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez being the star attraction.

CAF’s decision to ban Zimbabwe from using local stadia had robbed entertainment starved fans of an opportunity to watch Africa’s most talented live.

The Zimbabwe Senior Men’s national football team, The Warriors, travel to Blida for a date with the Desert Foxes on March 26, with the venue for the return match a few days later still not clear.

The fact that football match venues were disqualified is a cause for concern for all football stakeholders.

Again, we maintain that the MDC-run councils sabotaged the refurbishment of sporting facilities.

In this case, the CAF inspectors did not simply target Zimbabwe but all affiliates under the continental football governing body.

Incompetence brought disgrace to the cherished ‘House of Stone’, Zimbabwe, as the opposition councils fought hard to tarnish the country’s image.

The country was disgraced with intent to stir anger among the populace who constitute a large number of citizens.

CAF noted, in tentative terms, that any member association not having a stadium which meets the least requirements would be forced to play home matches in foreign lands.

The standpoint by CAF came when authorities in Zimbabwe faced a counterattack from the waning standards of local sporting infrastructure.

Zimbabwe sporting facilities have suffered several years of abandonment by MDC-led councils.  

CAF inspectors confirmed major stadiums did not meet the standards for international assignments, including the Government-owned National Sports Stadium, and local authority owned Rufaro and Gwanzura Stadiums.

The African football authorities hurriedly proceeded on Algerians’ report and effected a prohibition on Barbourfields Stadium.

An invitation for a follow-up inspection of the stadium was turned down.

Barbourfields Stadium failed to satisfy the North Africans’ expectations, subsequently compelling the Warriors to have to play their next 2021 AFCON qualifiers on foreign soil.

This move cast severe consequences for the Warriors and national vanity.

The Government has since embarked on a blitz to mend the indiscretions at the stadiums hopeful that CAF sanction might be reviewed ahead of the next match.  

It has stepped in to correct the humiliating situation for Zimbabwean football where the Warriors’2021 AFCON qualifier against Algeria, the Desert Foxes and national under 20 women’s team would be deprived of playing before their home crowd.

The unpleasant state has seen backers coming forward, with Herentals pledging to upgrade dressing rooms and set up air conditioners.

Folks contributed and donated equipment, as well as a variety of services.

The robust appeal to authorities to attend to the main areas commended for upgrading by CAF inspectors in November last year appear to pay dividends through Government intervention.

On an additional note, there is an emotional side when you look at the coronavirus which has taken partial infections in the North African country to three.

This comes after an Italian national has since been sent back home from Algeria, leaving his family under solitary confinement in Blida, where the game is supposed to be staged.

The first case was reported on February 23.

The country might record more cases as the latest patients might have come into contact with more people before the disease was identified. 

Yet CAF is mum on that issue.

The epidemic is said to have originated from Wuhan Province in China. 

Although the coronavirus epidemic has not extensively spread in Africa, it is likely the forthcoming AFCON qualifiers that include the Algerian-Warriors clash in Blida might be affected.

The extremely infectious airborne coronavirus has almost put everyday life, sporting events included, on a halt in regions affected by the virus.

Algeria is not safe, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier pitting Algeria and Zimbabwe see the fixture being affected.

Football, in Algeria, is the country’s most popular sport.

Owing to Algeria’s historic ties with France, a number of Algerian players are in the French league.

The French league even ran the risk of being unable to finish due to the deadly coronavirus. 

Algerians have tendencies of sending chartered planes carrying football fans to host countries.

This is food for thought