MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO CITY-It’s true, you are not dreaming, its real, Zimbabwe is set to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2031 edition.
The country is set to make history and host the coveted AFCON tournament in 2031 a feat that was almost achieved by then Zimbabwe Football Association president Leo Mugabe in 2000 but tumbled along the way as the Government refused to give the mandatory guarantee.
On 8 February 1999 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive – then led by Issa Hayatou – decided to strip Zimbabwe of the hosting rights for non-compliance with the specifications.
The continental body then awarded the rights to Nigeria and Ghana – the first time two countries were picked to co-host the tournament much to the disappointment of football lovers in the tea pot shaped landlocked soccer crazy nation.
Zimbabwe has never hosted the 68year old tournament despite gaining Independence 44years as compared to neighbouring South Africa which has hosted continental premier tournament twice in 34 years of freedom.
The good news is that, the wait is over, thanks to visionary Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) founder and Heart Group of Companies proprietor, Prophet Walter Magaya.
As soon as he disembarked from his latest Range Rover the audience at Mucheke stadium was all smiles as they were waiting to hear the good news from the ZIFA presidential front runner.
Magaya told The Midweek Watch in an exclusive interview at the home of soccer in the ancient city that he is confident of winning the elections set for next year and he had no reason to participate if he knew he would lose.
“I don’t participate in a lost cause in my life, if I knew that I would lose the elections I was not going to put my name in the hat.
“My vision is to transform soccer in this country and the first thing is to spruce up the stadiums to international standards and we are targeting six stadiums in the whole country so that we will be able to host AFCON come 2031,” said the giant Prophet.
Magaya said he will only need 90 days to renovate Mucheke Stadium if given the green light and it will be one of the stadiums to host AFCON games.
In addition to stadiums there are plans to renovate or add more airports around the country so that travelling parties do not use the road when going for matches.
“Airports in the countryside need to be upgraded as well for easy of travel of teams that will be taking part in the AFCON tournament or other international matches, that means between now and then a lot of work needs to be done,” he added.
Magaya is on whirlwind tour of all the provinces assessing facilities that need renovations as well as garnering support for the elections slated for January next year as the normalization committee led by Lincoln Mutasa’s term of office comes to an end.
At Mucheke Stadium Magaya was met by City of Masvingo Mayor Cllr Aleck Tabe, Cllr Maxwell Manduna, Cllr Sengerayi Manyanga, Cllr Tsitsi Marombedze, ZIFA Masvingo Province chairman Nabioth Magwizi, ZIFA Eastern Region Soccer League vice chairman Wisdom Simba, housing director Simbarashe Mandishona, football legends and administrators.
The Mayor gave thumbs up to Magaya’s proposal to renovate Mucheke Stadium and promised to give him all the necessary support to see the project through.
“We are more than ready to support Prophet Magaya’s vision, we have been waiting for such a gesture and it has come at the right time, it has been on our plans unfortunately funds were not permitting us to start although we had planned for this.
“We have also done our homework as well and we have sent a team to Harare to learn from Rufaro Stadium and that is exactly what we want here in Masvingo,” said Tabe.
