The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA)‚ the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) headline the long list of major sporting bodies in Zimbabwe which have suspended activities with immediate effect to bring sports in the country to a total lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Although Zimbabwe is yet to record any case of the novel COVID-19‚ President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday declared a national emergency during an address to the nation in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.
Covid-19 has reached over 200‚000 confirmed cases globally‚ with nearly 9 000 deaths.
ZIFA said the football association would adhere to the directive having already dissolved the ongoing training camps for the national Under-20 women’s team and the locally based Warriors who were preparing for the 2020 African Nations Championships (Chan) finals.
The Confederation of African Football confirmed that the 2020 African Nations Championships, set for Cameroon next month, had been postponed while the Young Mighty Warriors were scheduled to travel to Ethiopia next week for the Under-17 World Cup qualifiers.
“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday (Tuesday) declared coronavirus (Covid-19) a national disaster and has outlined a number of measures to combat the scourge including temporary banning of gatherings exceeding 100 people,” ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said in a statement.
“ZIFA, as a law-abiding institution, will comply with government’s directive and the Executive Committee has resolved as follows: –
1. All football matches and gatherings are hereby suspended with immediate effect.
2. The African Nations Championships (Chan) camp will be dissolved on Wednesday 18 March 2020. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also taken a decision to postpone the 2020 Cameron CHAN finals that had been set for April 4-25.
3. Under 20 Women camp will also be called off on Wednesday, 18 March 2020.
“Our wish was for both teams to stay in camp longer and prepare adequately for the upcoming fixtures but the Executive Committee has taken this position in the interest of the safety & health of all stakeholders. We urge everyone to stay safe by adhering to World Health Organisation guidelines,” Gwesela added.
