Sunday News

6 June 2010

Talking sport with Phineas Mukwazo

OVER the years Zimbabwean athletes have carried the Zimbabwean flag with pride when participating both regional and internationally.

Some of the world-acclaimed athletes who come to mind in that regard are Brian Dzingai, Lewis Banda, Tendai Chimusasa, Savieri Ngidhi, Cuthbert Nyasango, Samukeliso Moyo, Young Talkmore Nyongani, Sharon Tawengwa, Tabitha Tsatsa, George Majaji, Tendai Chimusasa, the list is endless. Recently 34-year-old Stephen Muzhinji further underscored the competitive nature and resilience of our athletes when he successfully retained the grueling Comrades Marathon title in South Africa. Some of the afore-mentioned athletes have since retired or are on the verge of calling it quits. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the athletics authorities in this country to close gap by emphasising on the equivalent of what in soccer circles is known as a vibrant junior development policy.

It is with that in mind, that it is disturbing when one learns that standing in between such benevolent developmental initiatives are useless squabbles that at best border on sheer selfishness.

I was privileged to be in Botswana for the well attended and anticipated Confederation of African Athletics Southern Region and 2010 Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers at the University of Botswana Stadium in Gaborone recently. I was impressed about how youth athletes are valued in other countries. It has to be said that while our athletes had to scrounge for transport to take them to the Games, Lesotho athletes traveled in a bus belonging to their equivalent of our Sports and Recreation Commission, while the team from Swaziland traveled in the comfort of a bus provided by David Coltart’s equivalent ministry here. That is how it is supposed to be.

Disturbing as it were, elsewhere in our sports pages this week we carry a story that the young innocent Zimbabwe athletes could have missed participating in Youth Olympics Games qualifiers in Botswana last month after the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee(ZOC) allegedly withdrew funding for the trip at the last minute following a misunderstanding with the National Athletics Associations of Zimbabwe(NAAZ).

It has since emerged that NAAZ were left clutching at straws when ZOC withdrew their support at the last minute and the athletics governing mother body had to resort to the begging bowl to complement their meager resources so that the under-18 athletes could make the trip.

Sources within the athletics camp that traveled with the team to Botswana spoke of personality clashes pitting individuals at ZOC and NAAZ, although the blame was squarely laid on the former.

It can also be noted that these were the same underprivileged youngsters who could not prepare adequately for the final qualifiers. It is on record that the youngsters failed to go to camp last December and take part in the South African Yellow Pages as part of their preparations for the finale. We therefore implore both the ZOC and NAAZ, as we have done in the past, to settle their differences once and for all for the benefit of the development of athletics in this country.

We will not proffer any solutions this time around, but we can only advise that great leaders never set themselves above their followers except in carrying responsibilities.
This can only be done if both recognise their responsibilities in the whole jigsaw puzzle; ZOC sticking to its mandate of financing developmental and talent identification initiatives by NAAZ.

A final word of advice should be that:
“In a controversy, the instant we feel angry, we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.”

Herald

June 4 2010

Harare — Confusion surrounds the November 2010 Ordinary and Advanced level examination registration deadline, with senior Government officials yesterday issuing conflicting statements.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said Government had extended the deadline for students under the Basic Education Assistance Module.

However, his Deputy Lazarus Dokora said the extension covered all students who failed to register before Zimsec’s May 28 deadline.

In an interview, Minister Coltart said: “Those who failed to register because of inefficiency and are not impoverished are not going to benefit. This is strictly for the disadvantaged who meet the criteria utilised by Beam.”

He said Cabinet was still to consider the amount of money needed to help disadvantaged students and Beam officials were being consulted on the matter.

“We understand that there might have been some students that failed to register because of poverty so we are in the process of establishing an extension of the deadline to cater for them,” he said.

Minister Coltart said they needed to stick to the deadline for professional reasons and to bring order to Zimbabwe’s education sector.

“The deadline we set this year will help stabilise Zimsec,” the minister said.

He said the Government was in the process of determining the exact number of registered candidates to ensure proper planning for the public examinations.

“There is need to contract printing houses, some external to Zimbabwe, that is why we need to determine with accuracy how many students have registered,” Minister Coltart said.

He said this year’s deadline should not have ignited concern because it had always been the norm before the decade of economic decline.

However, speaking at a function to mark 100 years since the establishment of Chiedza Primary School in Mbare, Deputy Minister Dokora said: “All students left out will register through the late entry window period.

“The window period will run from the initial May 28 deadline to June 11 and all students registering under this arrangement will have to pay a US$5 late registration fee per subject.”

He said all schools were aware of the late entry arrangement and the Government did not need to issue a circular to that effect.

Deputy Minister Dokora dismissed reports that many students were shunning the local examination board preferring international boards like the Cambridge Examinations Council.

He said the latter were expensive and beyond the reach of many.

Social Welfare Minister Paurina Mpariwa added that Unicef had provided part of the money to pay exam fees for students under Beam.

“Those disadvantaged persons who failed to pay for registration will benefit from the US$20 million rollout that we received from Unicef,” she said.

Exam fees remained unchanged this year at US$10 and US$20 per Ordinary and Advanced Level subject respectively.

Zimsec gave May 28 as the deadline for registration which many parents and guardians said was “unrealistic”.

“The Cambridge deadline is end of June. Why should it be more flexible for a foreign exams body than ours?” asked one parent yesterday.

Last year, tens of thousands of prospective candidates failed to register after failing to raise the exam fees.

Associated Press

By Enoch Muchinjo

3 June 2010

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Brazil’s World Cup players gave Zimbabweans a rare chance to celebrate Wednesday, as fans filled the National Sports Stadium to watch stars like Kaka and Robinho play the African nation in a friendly.

Almost 60,000 supporters, some wearing bright yellow Brazil shirts, saw the five-time world champion beat Zimbabwe 3-0 with goals by Michel Bastos, Robinho and Elano.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai watched on from brown armchairs after shaking hands with Brazil’s players before the kickoff.

“It’s a nice country,” midfielder Gilberto Silva said after Brazil’s first match in Zimbabwe. “The atmosphere was great and we enjoyed the hospitality.”

Inspired by World Cup fever in neighboring South Africa, hundreds of cheering supporters surrounded Brazil’s team bus as it left. One held up a sign that read: “Mr. Dunga, where is Ronaldinho?” in reference to coach Dunga’s omission of the AC Milan midfielder from his World Cup squad.

The presence of football’s most famous national team was a rare treat for the fans. Sport in Zimbabwe has been overshadowed in recent years by political troubles and a major economic collapse.

“It was a great spectacle. It was nice to see the stadium packed to the brim,” sports minister David Coltart said. “Zimbabwe played well. I’m sorry we didn’t get a goal, I thought we deserved at least one.”

Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari captained the Zimbabwe team and said his players performed well despite their lack of preparation.

“We played a good game considering we only came together on Monday as a team,” he said.

The Zimbabwe government has not said how much the Brazilians were paid to visit, only that it met around 40 percent of the cost — which is thought to be significant. Sponsors put up the remainder of the money.

“Look, it’s very important that we demonstrate to the world that Zimbabwe is a peaceful country and that we can organize big matches,” Coltart said.

Members of the India and Sri Lanka cricket teams, in Zimbabwe for a tri-nation limited-overs series, were also at the match.

The Brazilian squad was given a rousing welcome by local fans when it arrived in Harare on Tuesday night on a charter flight from Johannesburg — where it is preparing for the World Cup.

Zimbabwe is just the fifth African team, along with Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, to play against Brazil in the last 30 years.

Chronicle

2 June 2010

Czech Republic Embassy will hand over the book, Kolobeja written by historian Pathisa Nyathi to the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.

The Minister of Education Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, will receive the book from the Ambassador of Czech Republic to Zimbabwe at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Friday.

The Czech Republic Embassy sponsored the penning of the book.

The guest of honour will be Professor Phineas Makhurane. Also to give an address will be deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Moses Mzila.

The book written by Nyathi, is a compilation of Ndebele folktales, which were told in the past by elders in the society.

In an interview, Nyathi said the book comprises well-known folktales in the Ndebele society.

“The reason why I decided to come up with the compilation is that I realised that most young people don’t know folktales, hence I thought it was wise for me do the compilation and preserve our own folktales.

“If you look at what is happening in most societies, televisions have replaced grandmothers because they have become the source of entertainment whereas in the traditional society they used to tell folktales which were of great importance to the society.

“They carried societal values that used to guide children from misdemeanors. I hope that this book will play the same role in entertaining and educating the young,” he said.
The book was nominated for the 2009 National Arts Merit Award.

Different artistes in the city are expected to attend the event.

Fox News

2 June 2010

By Barry Moody

HARARE (Reuters) – Brazil’s Samba Boys brought joy to long-suffering Zimbabwe on Wednesday, causing euphoria on the streets despite inflicting defeat on the home side in a World Cup warm-up match.

Zimbabwe has been tormented by a decade of economic collapse, political crisis, violence and isolation and good news has been rare. The once buoyant tourism industry has collapsed.

Until this week its dream of some benefit — especially tourist revenue — from the World Cup in neighboring South Africa had been dashed.

Then Brazil, one of the favorites to win the biggest trophy in football, agreed to come to Harare for a match against the soccer minnows of this country, rated 110th in the world.

The joyful mood was scarcely punctuated by the 3-0 victory of Brazil. Zimbabwe pleased their fans by performing creditably until tiring in the second half.

Seats to the 60,000 capacity national stadium, refurbished recently by China, were said to be sold out, although there were empty spaces. Fans without tickets poured into the area and had to be held back by police at the gates.

Ticket prices, at $10 were triple the normal rate.

“Today is a momentous occasion for Zimbabweans. We never thought we would have an opportunity to see Brazilians locally,” said one spectator, Dean Chikukwa, a local staff manager.

“We are quite grateful that they decided to pass through this country. For some of us, given our age, this is probably our last opportunity to see Brazil live with our own eyes and not on TV,” he added.

“This is very special for Zimbabwe. This match raises our profile as a country and I am sure the Brazilians, when they go back, will be able to testify that this is a wonderful tourist destination and they will also agree we are hospitable people as a nation. I believe it will encourage more people to come,” Chikukwa said.

Another spectator, banker Felix Tanatswa told Reuters as he left the game with his wife and son: “It was brilliant. It shows all those who believe Zimbabwe is a country that should be separated from the rest of the world that it is actually a great country.”

A traffic jam built up on the road to the stadium, on the edge of the capital, more than two hours before the 3.30 P.M (1330 GMT) kick-off.

HALF-DAY HOLIDAY

Government offices and schools declared a half-day holiday to allow people to see the match, which local media suggested was a favor from Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to Zimbabwe’s leader Robert Mugabe, long ostracized in the West for what is seen as his brutal repression of political opposition and rigging of elections in 2008.

Tourism Minister Walter Muzembi said last week the game would be a major boost for Zimbabwe and that three companies, including a local unit of the world’s second largest platinum producer, Impala Platinum Holdings, had paid 70 percent of Brazil’s appearance fees. He gave no details of the amount.

The match was front page news in Zimbabwe’s newspapers, usually exclusively devoted to political and economic events.

Staff at Harare’s exclusive Meikles hotel said it was full for the first time since the 2008 elections.

A long political impasse after the disputed result of that poll was finally broken by the formation of a power-sharing government with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) last year.

But Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party is still considered to hold real power in the country, with control of the police and army.

Even so Sports Minister David Coltart, from the MDC, told the BBC: “This is the biggest sporting event ever in Zimbabwe. It is a unique opportunity to rebrand Zimbabwe.”

Both Mugabe and power-sharing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai arrived to greet the teams and watch the match just before kick-off, to cheers from the excited crowd.

The Zimbabwean fans adopted South Africa’s noisy vuvuzela trumpets, sounding them incessantly long before the match began and some wore Brazilian colors. In one corner of the stands Zimbabweans held up a banner reading “Welcome Brazil.”

(Editing by Marius Bosch and Kevin Fylan and Alison Wildey)

Herald

2 June 2010

By Petros Kausiyo, Sydney Kawadza and Innocent Ruw

World soccer heavyweights Brazil arrived in Harare last night for their high-profile international friendly against Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.

The Samba Boys touched down at the Harare International Airport to a welcome befitting of five-time world champions by senior Government officials, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority staff, Zifa representatives and a scores of football connoisseurs.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi; his Education, Sports, Art and Culture counterpart David Coltart; Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and the Minister of Information Communication Technology Nelson Chamisa led the colourful crowd that braved the chilly weather at the airport and waited patiently for more than an hour for the Samba Boys’ arrival.

Warriors skipper Benjani Mwaruwari – accompanied by team manager Sharrif Mussa and assistant coach Brenna Msiska – were on hand to welcome the Samba Boys.

Soccer fans and officials started trekking to the airport in the early hours of the evening, while some opted to wait at the Samba Boys’ base at the Rainbow Towers.

Brazil coach Dunga, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 1994, led the 23-man squad of stars from the plane to a rousing welcome.

The 126-member Brazilian delegation flew in from South Africa aboard a chartered flight for the encounter that has gripped the nation and attracted global attention.

Brazil are among the favourites to win the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup in South Africa that kicks off next week and are using the game against the Warriors as a tune-up for the football extravaganza.

Soon after their arrival, the team was whisked to their hotel amid tight security.

But that did not stop global icons like Kaka, Robinho, Elano, Lucio, Juan from taking time to take bow and wave to adoring fans.

The cheering crowd at Rainbow Towers went into frenzy when Benjani and Robinho – former teammates at English Premiership side Manchester City – hugged each other and conversed.

However, with security so tight, there was no chance for the fans including children, to get Kaka and company to sign autographs.

A few did manage to get closer to the Real Madrid midfielder – the second most expensive player ever – and get a handshake they undoubtedly will tell their own children about.

Rainbow Towers’ front office staff was clad in gold and green Brazil replica jerseys.

In an interview just before the Samba Boys’ arrival, Minister Mzembi said the imminent touch down of the world’s most decorated soccer team was one on the face of those who doubted Zimbabwe’s plans to market the country to the globe.

“The Samba Boys are in Zimbabwe to give the people a unique experience that can only be repeated in 2034, if we are lucky to be alive by then and will be repeated again in 2058 if we will be able to outlive 2034,” Minister Mzembi said.

This was in reference to the rotational system currently employed to ensure every continent hosts the Fifa World Cup, which will see Africa next entertaining the fiesta in 2034.

Minister Mzembi described the long journey and hard work behind setting up the match as one of “ups and downs”.

Minister Coltart added: “This is one of the most exciting sporting occasions that Zimbabwe has ever seen.

“This goes way beyond sport and it’s more about the importance of re-branding of the country.

“There is huge interest in this match and it gives the opportunity to portray Zimbabwe in a positive light.”

Benjani, who has recovered from a nagging knee problem to lead the Warriors in their biggest international assignment ever, said his troops were “excited about the match’’ and were geared to give their best this afternoon.

“We are here to welcome the Brazilians. We are taking this game seriously and the boys were really working hard (at training) and we are looking forward to come out with a win,’’ Benjani said.

The game kicks off at 3:30pm at the National Sports Stadium.

Guardian

By David Smith

2 June 2010

Despite criticisms of the cost, country enjoys a day of footballing spectacle in Harare

He will probably talk about it for decades, perhaps long after even Robert Mugabe is gone. Shaun Munemo had a day to remember today – the day Brazil came to play.

The six-year-old and his mother, Charity Munemo, 46, were among 60,000 people crammed into the national stadium in Harare for the biggest sporting event ever to hit Zimbabwe: a match against Brazil, the world’s greatest footballing nation. Zimbabwe came to a standstill as the unity government declared a half-day public holiday.

“It’s a big thing for the country,” said Munemo with her son at her side. “We never imagined it would happen. We feel humbled to have Brazil in our land. In every corner, every market, every shop, people are all speaking of this Brazil match. My son is very excited.”

Warming up for the imminent World Cup in neighbouring South Africa, Brazil put on a display of artistry in the beautiful game in a country that, judging by the enthusiasm of the crowd, has been starved of beauty for too long.

It was also a day of peculiar collisions, none more so than when Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s prime minister, strolled on to the pitch and competed with Kaka, millionaire star of Real Madrid and Brazil, for the crowd’s biggest cheer. Rarely had politics and sport danced such a curious tango.

Mugabe, 86, carrying the Zimbabwe flag, and his wife, Grace, in white hat and jacket, greeted the visiting players after a brass band played the national anthems. It remains to be seen if the Brazilians will face the same criticism as Prince Charles once did for shaking the presidential hand.

But two months after this Chinese-built stadium witnessed one of Africa’s most reviled leaders bask in pageantry marking his 30th year in power, it was the turn of the Samba Boys to whip up some rather more sincere adulation – and a chorus of vuvuzela horn blasts.Zimbabwe has become as synonymous with misery as Brazil is with football. Political violence and rigged elections, record hyperinflation and economic collapse, the erosion of civil liberties and human rights were an unsavoury backdrop to the strutting of football’s finest aristocrats.

The healing power of sport can be tritely eulogised, but for Mugabe the match did appear to represent a publicity coup, despite awkward questions over why a country dependent on food aid, with 94% unemployment, had spent a fortune on wooing a team of multimillionaires. The tourism minister, Walter Mzembi, denied reports that Zimbabwe had paid the Brazilian Football Federation $1.8m (£1.2m) after a year of negotiations. Other sources put the figure closer to $1m. Mzembi said 70% of the cost of the game was contributed by a mining company and mobile phone operator. The remaining 30% of the bill was paid by the Zimbabwean government’s tourism arm.

Judging by the feverish local reaction, the calculation appeared to have paid off. People walked for miles, paying from $10, triple the normal rate, to $60 for the best seats – or rather, the best positions on old-fashioned concrete terraces.

The big match was seemingly one thing that could unite Mugabe’s Zanu-PF and Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change. Sports Minister David Coltart, from the MDC, told the BBC: “This is the biggest sporting event ever in Zimbabwe. It is a unique opportunity to rebrand Zimbabwe.”

Others shared the sense of occasion. Clarence Wega, 29, an accountant who walked 5km to get a ticket, said: “I never imagined Brazil would come here. It’s great for the morale of the people. We need to forget our troubles and enjoy the moment. It’s a historic thing. The World Cup has felt far away but this brings it back home.” He added: “This is a bullseye for the government.”

Cuthbert Muwani, 30, selling ice-creams to the animated fans, said: “I never thought I would see the Brazilian team here in my life. The country has scored big bringing them here. It will be in the history books for years to come. Whether Zimbabwe lose 2-0 or 3-0, just playing Brazil is a win already.”

Despite Zimbabwe’s economic crisis, he defended the government’s hefty payment to Brazilian football. “It’s a good use of money because other countries, especially the west, were shunning this country. It improves our image. People will now say, ‘Ah, Brazil were in this country.'”

On the field, it was billed as one of football’s great mismatches. Brazil, five times world champions and ranked number one, against Zimbabwe’s “Warriors”, ranked 110th behind Rwanda, Tanzania and Azerbaijan. For these players, some of whom are based overseas, it was the biggest match of their lives.

And for the first 40 minutes it seemed possible Zimbabwe could pull off a coup beyond even Mugabe’s propaganda department. Ovidy Karuru missed an open goal in the 19th minute by shooting over the crossbar, unlikely to please the watching president.

Finally, Brazil woke up when Michel Bastos scored from a free kick, winger Robinho added a second from inside the penalty area in the 44th minute and midfielder Elano wrapped things up from close range after half-time. In the end it had been a pleasant afternoon stroll.

For Zimbabwe, the result didn’t really matter. “This is the best thing ever to happen to Zimbabwean football. I hope this is the beginning of many good things to come,” said Henrietta Rushwaya, head of the Zimbabwe Football Association.

But now they must come back down to earth against less illustrious opponents: Norman Mapeza, the team coach, said: “I must emphasise that we must not lose sight of the fact that we have a very important game again on Sunday against the Seychelles.”

Sunday Mail

30 May 2010

By F. Madaya

We greatly appreciate the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture’s efforts to reduce school fees in Government schools, but this should not end there.

Schools now demand huge levies from parents. The minister is the one who regulates the conduct of both Government and private schools in the country hence he should move a step further and regulate school fees and levies charged by all schools, including private schools.

For example, some private schools are charging as much as US$3 300 per child per term. For a school with an enrolment of 500, this comes to a staggering US$1 650 000.

It is amazing how schools, particularly private schools, manipulate their accounts to give a false picture of real expenditure. A false impression has been created that the fees charged would have been agreed upon at the so-called AGMs, but the truth is most parents find it unnecessary to argue against the fees that would have been presented by the schools’ boards because experience has shown that the school authorities will argue on technicalities that will see them maintain fees at the levels they want.

One can easily deduce a take-it-or leave-it attitude and this is the main reason why the minister should come in and rescue innocent Zimbabweans seeking to educate their children through available education systems within the country.

Parents are prepared to pay, but the fees should be reflective of the general level of prices of goods and services in the country. Not only that, the school fees should also be reflective of the general level of earnings in the country.

The school boards always argued that food was the most expensive component in the whole matrix of running a school. Now food prices have been coming down, so there should be a marked reduction in the food component of school fees.

In one of the daily newspapers, Minister David Coltart was quoted as saying that parents take their children to schools of their own choice hence they should abide by the terms and conditions of the schools, including the fees demanded.
I think that was an irresponsible statement by the minister and should be retracted. The impression he gives by such statements is that we have no regulations for our education system. Minister, remember the country’s charter says it is the right of every child to have access to education, implying that it is the minister’s job to ensure that the education environment is conducive for all Zimbabweans to send their children to school.
The minister should not give the impression that the education arena in Zimbabwe is a free-for-all market where people form trusts to amass wealth. Educating our children is not supposed to be a profit-making venture but a social responsibility.
This matter is very important and the Government, through the Minister of Education, should, at this important time in our life as a nation, make a policy announcement regarding school fees charged by both Government and private schools.
Cabinet must deliberate on this very important issue and come up with limits for school fees and levies for both Government and private schools.
Just as teachers can go on strike for their salaries, I think it is high time parents come together and refuse completely to pay unreasonable school fees until, and only until, Government intervenes.
F. Madaya — Harare.

Supersport.co.za

By Neil Manthorp

30 May 2010

Herald

29 May 2010

By Robson Sharuko

THE historic tour of world football powerhouse Brazil to Zimbabwe next week and the visit by the Indian and Sri Lanka cricket teams for the Micromax Tri-Series are more than just landmark sporting events and provide the country with a massive opportunity to push forward its battle to convince the globe that it is gradually taking firm steps in a trying journey back into the big time.

The Samba Boys, record five-time World Cup winners, are scheduled to arrive in Harare on Tuesday for a blockbuster one-off friendly international football tie against the Zimbabwe Warriors at the National Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

World cricket powerhouse India and Sri Lanka have sent their national teams — even without some of their star players like Sachin Tendulkar — for the Micromax Tri-Series One-Day International cricket tournament with the Indians also playing their hosts in a Twenty20 contest.

The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, who is a keen cricket and football fan — who took time off his heavy schedule to cheer the Zimbabwe team in their opening ODI match against India at Queens yesterday — said the visit of the Asian cricket giants and the Brazil national football team were bigger events than just their sporting value.

The Zimbabwean cricketers successfully chased down a score of 285-5 by the Indians to win.

Brendan Taylor top-scoring for the hosts with his 81 in a man-of-the-match performance while Craig Ervine, on his debut, struck a brilliant half century to guide the home team to victory by six wickets.

The victory by the cricketers torched wild celebrations among their fans in this city and set the stage for what should be a carnival sporting fiesta for Zimbabwe that will culminate with the Brazilians — five-time World Champions –— taking on the Warriors in Harare next week.

Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari, back home here in Bulawayo from his base in England, also described the proposed visit by the Brazilians as a massive event that has the potential of changing the face of both the national team and domestic football forever.

“It’s a massive game for our country and it’s a privilege that we can not only be hosting a team like Brazil but also playing it and I believe that this will have a big impact on the game in our nation forever,’ said Benjani.

“I wouldn’t like to say a lot right now because I am yet to speak with the Warriors’ management and Zifa and everyone who has been involved in bring Brazilians and you know that a lot has changed in the team and the old coach has moved elsewhere.

“So once I talk to all of them and I am in a good picture to know what is on the ground then I can issue a full official comment but, as a Zimbabwean, I’m thrilled that we have this grand opportunity to host Brazil and we should make the best out of it because it won’t come again in our lives.” Benjani said.

Coltart also hailed the proposed visit by the Brazilians and the tour of the Asian heavyweights.

“I congratulate Walter Mzembi (the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry) and all his officials in his ministry who have made it all possible for the Brazilian football team to come here and play a friendly match ahead of the World Cup,” said Coltart.

“It’s not just a sporting event. It’s more than that and it just falls in the same bracket as the initiative that I have been talking about of using sport as a medium to show the world the efforts we are taking to stabilise the country.

“When Brazil come to Harare on Wednesday, the whole world would be watching us and they can see the revamped National Sports Stadium and it will see that we also have the capacity to host a team like Brazil successfully.

“We don’t have the millions of dollars, as a country right now, needed to run advertising campaigns and buy column centimeters in the international media to show the world that we are moving in the right direction.

“But the beauty of it all is that through sport, we can do it and that is why the visit by the Brazilians and the tour of India and Sri Lanka are important in the wider national context of our nation.”

Coltart said while hosting Brazil was a big achievement for Zimbabwe, beating them would even be sweeter.

“I also hope that our national football team plays well against one of the best football sides in the world,” said Coltart.

“But as I said before what is important, given where we are coming from the challenges that made our country a bad brand around the world, what is important is just being able to show the world that we have the capacity to host such big events in a peaceful and efficient manner.

“The event today (the cricket match between Zimbabwe and India) is also being beamed across the entire world and they are seeing the Indian team playing at a very peaceful venue in a game that has been well organised.

“This paints a very good picture of Zimbabwe and that is why I have always said that sport plays a very critical role in the rebranding of Zimbabwe.

“Having top-rated nations like India and Sri Lanka here is also important and although they left some of their best players they still brought competitive teams.”

Coltart disclosed that he was disappointed that his spirited efforts to convince the Black Caps of New Zealand to tour the country failed but was optimistic that domestic cricket, just like many other facets of the nation, was taking a turn for the better.

“It was disappointing that New Zealand didn’t tour but we have established contacts  with other cricketing  nations and I have had fruitful discussions with both the ambassadors of Australia and Britain with a view to getting their countries to start the re-engagement process in as far as our national cricket teams are concerned.

“I will also shortly be traveling to Australia and New Zealand to continue  those discussions so that in the end we get our national team playing all the big teams again.

“Our national cricket team is being rebuilt and, while we have not yet reached the standards we set around 1999, we are moving on well and the players, who had turned their back on the game, are back. There is hope now.”