The Herald
Collin Matiza
26 August 2009
Harare — ZIFA will soon put in place a local organising committee that will help in the running of the 2009 Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup to be staged in this country in October.
Wellington Nyatanga, the Zifa president, told The Herald yesterday that they were now looking at setting up a local organising committee which will work hand-in-hand with their counterparts at Cosafa.
He said this after the Government on Monday made a commitment, through the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, that it will bankroll the tournament.
Coltart announced on Monday, at a Press briefing attended by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi, that the Government will soon be releasing US$1 million for the staging of this year’s Cosafa tournament in Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority will inject an additional US$100 300 for the tournament that will be staged at the country’s two football venues – Rufaro in Harare and Bulawayo’s Barbourfields.
The Cosafa tournament is expected to attract all its 14 member countries – Angola, Botswana, Comoros Islands, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
This will see Zimbabwe hosting its second biggest soccer tournament since it last hosted the Cecafa tournament way back in 1985.
And the Zifa president yesterday said that they were now going to move fast in their preparations for the 2009 Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup.
He said Zifa’s first major task was to put in place a local organising committee that will help in the organisation and running of the regional soccer showcase in October.
“We (now) have to put in place a local organising committee which will be linking up with the Cosafa organising committee which runs this senior regional tournament.
“They will first have to link-up and come up with the format for this tournament because it is run under the rules and regulations of Cosafa. “In fact, this is like a regional Confederations Cup which is just as big as the Cecafa tournament, which is designed for the East and Central African countries.
“But we (Cosafa), with 14 countries, are the biggest regional grouping in Africa and our tournament has its own rules and regulations but it’s also sanctioned by the world’s soccer governing body Fifa,” Nyatanga said.
The Zifa boss also called upon the nation to come together in making sure that they successfully host this prestigious regional tournament in October. “Our Government has already set the ball rolling by injecting US$1 million for the tournament but this being a football matter, it must be driven by all football lovers and administrators alike.
“So, I would like to call upon all the key major stakeholders of soccer and sport in general in this country to rally behind the Government and Zifa in making sure that the nation successfully hosts this big regional tournament.”
Although the Government has chipped in with US$1 million, it would be almost impossible to hold the tournament without any local corporate support.
And Nyatanga acknowledged this and said these “external supporters” would only chip in after they had made sure that Zifa and the local organising committee had made significant strides in their preparations.
Nyatanga said they were now stepping up the marketing of the Cosafa tournament.
“Everyone, including the local media, must now get involved in marketing and advertising this important event while we (Zifa) will also play our part in making sure that the visiting teams get good accommodation, food, transport and security.
“We are also hoping to get the necessary assistance from our partners in the tourism and hospitality industry and the Sports, Tourism, Image and Communication Taskforce,” Nyatanga said.