Zimbabwe footballers in anguish and frustration  |

It’s 182 days of shame in Zimbabwe as the impasse between the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), and the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) remains unresolved.

Players in the local league are crying foul that their future now looks bleak.

It’s exactly 182 days since FIFA suspended Zimbabwe from international football after the SRC refused to reinstate the Felton Kamambo-led executive board they removed from office.

Kamambo and his entire executive were removed by the government arm last year in November on allegations of maladministration, sexual harassment of female officials and corruption.

FIFA then banned Zimbabwe on 24 February, citing government interference and the developments adversely affected growth, with funding from FIFA frozen.

It is unclear if Zimbabwe will ever play international football again since the national team is frozen while the SRC is silent.

The 2022/23 CAF Champions league commences this weekend, and FC Platinum, who had won the ticket to participate in this prestigious tournament, is missing out.

Locally, clubs are sinking in the murky waters of debt, with Caps United facing their latest episode of player’s industrial action. The same crisis also hit Bulawayo Chiefs.

And now, players have taken to Facebook to speak of their anguish and frustration, looking at how the circumstances have frozen them out of regional and continental competitions where they usually market themselves.

Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn)

“An African proverb says, “when elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers”. As local footballers, we have been feeling that same pain and suffering. 

“The FIFA/CAF suspension has made us way off and is threatening the quality of our lives forever as locally based players in Zimbabwe. 

“Regardless of our difference, we are one, and we kindly ask for immediate action to be taken to bring back recognized football in Zimbabwe. #PleaseRestoreOurCareers,” he said.

Emmanuel Mandiranga (Caps United)

“It is the dream of all Zimbabwean footballers, including myself, to play abroad and to be financially stable to change the lives of our local communities and families.

“However, the suspension on the local football has come as a hindrance to achieving that dream because of a lot of opportunities to be scouted, let alone representing our beloved Zimbabwe. 

“The more time we spend without resolving the issues, the more we throw many local talents in the dustbin. 

“We are asking for urgency in solving the problems in our local football and for the suspension to be lifted in no time so that our sole profession is recognized regionally and worldwide. #RestoreOurFootballCareers,” Mandiranga said amid his clubs’ financial turmoil.

Wisdom Mutasa

“We come in peace and harmony for the love of football. It is our primary source of livelihood, and without it being correctly managed, thousands can easily be turned into criminals. Recent statistics of local Zimbabwean footballers caught on the wrong side of the law are strong evidence of the mess we are in as footballers in Zim. 

“The CAF/FIFA suspension has blocked many from achieving their dreams of moving to greener pastures and making a decent living out of football, just like white-collar workers and corporate executives.

“Please set your differences aside to ensure the suspension is lifted as soon as yesterday for the betterment of the entire economy of Zimbabwe. #PleaseRestoreOurFootballCareers”

Several other players have joined in the hashtag, calling on the SRC to reinstate the Kamambo-led executive for the sake of progress.