By Trevor Makonyonga
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has moved towards the resumption of sports by inviting national sport associations (NSAs) to come up with plans towards the restarts of sports.
This was said by SRC chairman of the Covid committee, Dr Allen Chiura.
“We have the unpleasant job of stopping people from playing sport, so now we are in a pleasant position of trying to get people to play sport safely. For everybody to understand, the committee looks over protocols and policies from organizations all over the world on how they are managing sport and then we look at it and try to fit it in our own context here.
“We then meet, the three of us on the committee, and we make recommendations to the ministry. We do not do any of the approvals, we just pass on recommendations. We have been trying to resume sports for the medium and high risk. We have just sent out letters to all the medium and high risk sport national associations asking them to look over the protocols that we have in place for their resumption.
“They are hopefully going to give us those back to us that they have the financial capability and the administrative capability to follow through those recommendations,” said Dr Chiura said.
Dr Chiura also said that the resumption will be in gradual fashion as they do not want to be “super spreader.”
“It is going to be in a gradual fashion. We have to remember that (as) the SRC Covid committee is to make sure that we do not create any events that may lead to being super spreader events. Covid is still here despite what people think and there is still a possibility of a third wave. It is imperative that we do this in a very safe and organized manner,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has accepted the recommendations that were laid down by the SRC. In a statement, ZIFA Communication and Competitions manager, Xolisani Gwesela said that they had given feedback to SRC and their affiliates.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association has preliminarily accepted terms tabled by the regulator Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) on 15 March 2021 as a precondition for the resumption of football. The decision has been transmitted to the Sports and Recreation Commission and most importantly to all our affiliates who have been eagerly waiting for the return of the beautiful game.
“ZIFA is grateful to government for providing the platform for a safe and sustainable return of football. We are confident that the proposed standard operating procedures will result in low risk of infection as well as manageable costs for all stakeholders,” said Gwesela.
He also added that ZIFA will keep it’s obligation to pay match officials and covering Covid tests.
“ZIFA will keep its obligation to foot referees’ fees for all leagues as well as footing some costs for covid-19 testing. The Association has further engaged all affiliates for further input to ensure that the eventual standard operating procedures we shall use are relevant to local football realities,” Gwesela said.
