Followers

Monday, January 11, 2010

Spare a thought for Togo Rushwaya

BY SPORTS REPORTER
As Togo was still mourning their three team members who were murdered in a gunfire attack in Angola a week before the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer, Henrietta Rushwaya, had a finger crossed hoping her country receives the gesture to replace Angola as the host of the continental show.
It was the night before the AFCON opening ceremony in Angola with Togo still considering pulling out of the tournament that Rushwaya was quoted in the local press expressing her wishes to host the tournament.
““We are able to organise the African Cup of Nations should we be requested at short notice to host it. Remember we are just coming out of the successful Cosafa Senior Challenge in which we hosted 13 countries,’’ she told The Sunday Mail.
“The main part of the work that was needed at the National Sports Stadium has already been completed and what remain are just the finer details of the dug-out but that is overnight work. So we can manage to step in should we be asked to.”
As if that was not enough a display of desperation, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Walter Mzembi, went on to comment that the Zimbabwe national team, will be ready to replace Togo in the soccer showpiece boasting of winning the Cosafa Senior Challenge, last year.
“We commiserate with the emissaries of Togo and Angola on the loss of life and injury to some that occurred and we feel our team, as winners of the Cosafa Senior Challenge, is in good shape to stun their opponents and even win the cup,” he said.
Despite the Warriors winning the regional showcase convincingly after beating Zambia 3-1 in the final, Harare based football enthusiasts Bezel Chitaitai expressed disbelief in the minister and Zifa boss’ comments.
“The tournament was never considered as a qualifier to the continental showdown or any tournament for that matter. It was the same team that was beaten at the Cecafa tournament and for someone of such a noble position to talk of them replacing a team at AFCON is so disturbing,” he said.
“And someone at Zifa house is already playing her cards that Angola be cancelled as the host. Why would CAF be so stupid to bring such a high profile tournament to a country with only two stadiums? Rufaro and Barbourfields may not even make the grade to host AFCON, zviroto zviroto vakomana (dreams should remain dreams gentlemen) Rushwaya must spare a thought for Togo.”

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

ha ha ha ha leave Rushwaya alone she is just daydreaming