By Lloyd Takawira
As local football is expected to return in September, clubs have to spend a hefy US$600 every week on players and coaching staff Covid-19 tests.
Drawing a national football Covid-19 framework, which is also in line with the Government and Ministry of Health regulations PSL, ZIFA and government officials agreed that PSL clubs must test players every week.
The ZIFA and PSL medical committee are working with the 27-page document and are expected to release the procedures to be followed by local teams.
Speaking to the media head of the ad-hoc medical committee spearheading the process of football resumption Mr Edward Chagonda, said the medical committee held zoom meetings with the relevant committees this week but no formal conclusion has been made from the proposals hence further physical meetings are to be held to come up with a comprehensive framework to clubs.
“The clubs would be required to test the players and officials, at least, once a week. In Europe, players are tested after every two days but we have recommended that here they test the players once a week.
‘‘It is a basic recommendation, in line with international regulations, that players should be tested regularly.
“But, the cost involved is huge. A test kit goes for US$15 per player and each club has 30 players, that is the minimum cost per week and this procedure should be done weekly,” said Chagonda.
Premier Soccer League clubs are supposed to register 30 players which includes 25 senior and five junior players. Each team has an average of seven members to 10 members on the technical bench.
With the huge financial burden bedelvling the country it remains to be seen how local football will resume as most PSL clubs have signalled that they are heavily burdened financially .
