Barbourfields in Bulawayo, Mandava in Zvishavane, Bata Stadium in Gweru and Hwange’s Colliery Stadium are some of the grounds currently hosting topflight football.

SPORTS minister Kirsty Coventry has outlined her vision for her new term in which she will prioritise infrastructure development among a host of other issues.

The recent return of football after a year’s Fifa ban will see the Warriors and their women counterparts, the Mighty Warriors, playing their home matches outside the country because local stadia do not meet the minimum Confederation of African Football requirements.

Topflight league teams have also been struggling for match venues with Harare teams setting up bases outside the capital.

Barbourfields in Bulawayo, Mandava in Zvishavane, Bata Stadium in Gweru and Hwange’s Colliery Stadium are some of the grounds currently hosting topflight football.

The National Sports Stadium was opened on Sunday to host the Harare derby between Caps United and Dynamos which ended 1-0 in favour of the Glamour Boys.

It had been closed since June due to water reticulation problems.

Cognisant of these challenges, the minister has revealed that her ministry will have a special bias towards this area.

“We want to focus specifically on infrastructure development and refurbishment as well as building up our technical abilities in our sport,” Coventry told NewsDay Sport.

“So from the management to the federation level to our coaching level, our massage and physiotherapy, our doctors that’s where we want to be able to invite top sports stakeholders from around the world in different sports to come in and work with our sports staff so that our technical expertise are raised,” she said.

“We have the talent, I just think we need now create a platform for those technical abilities to really be speeded up.”

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Dynamos players celebrating a goal that sealed the victory against Caps United at NSS yesterday

DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1

CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

DYNAMOS completed a rare Castle Lager Premier Soccer League double over Caps United as Nyasha Chintuli’s first half header secured maximum points and bragging rights in front of a good crowd at the National Sports Stadium which welcomed back topflight for the first time since June.

The 22nd minute strike ensured DeMbare maintained their quest for the league title. The win took them to fifth place on the log table with 39 points, nine behind log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars with 10 matches remaining.

That gap is set to be slashed to six points if the Genesis Mangombe-coached side are awarded points from their abandoned match against Highlanders.

A ninth game without a win for Caps United means the Lloyd Chitembwe-coached side are now dangerously two points off the relegation zone with 27 points.

Mangombe was thrilled with the win over their prime enemy.

“We are happy to win this match because Caps United is a good team. We scored and managed to protect the lead. I’m happy with that,” a delighted Mangombe said.

“We wanted it more, especially in the first half and had we been clinical, we could have scored three goals. What is more pleasing was that after scoring, we kept on pushing to try and create more chances. That limited their entries into our box in the first half. In the second half, they wanted it more than us, but we made sure that we don’t concede. Winning a derby like this shows that we are doing something correct, and we are in the right direction.”

Chitembwe was full of praise for his boys despite, the deflating defeat.

“It was a game of two halves,” Chitembwe said.

“They dominated us in the first half and we went on to dominate the second. In the first half we were giving them so many spaces and were able to play in between our lines. We made tactical changes in the second half and we were able to take control of the game. We created some good opportunities, unfortunately we couldn’t score.

“In terms of performance, we were OK. It wasn’t that bad, but of course at the end of the day football is all about results. This performance gives us the confidence to go out there and play the next game believing we can win it.”

The Green machine, naturally low on confidence due to their recent form, were shaky in the opening stages, sitting deep and allowing Dynamos space to move the ball around in midfield.

But it was Chitembwe’s men who created the first clear cut chance of the match on 20th minute when William Manondo forced an acrobatic save from goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa.

A minute later, Dynamos took the lead.

A quick and sharp interchange of passes started by Tanaka “Kante” Shandirwa involving the lively Donald Mudadi, released Emmanuel Ziocha on the right who rounded off the Caps goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga, but his shot from a tight angle hit the upright.

The ball fortuitously bounced back to the former Harare City man who cleverly lobbied it over the defenders on to the head of Chintuli who planted it home through the hands of Mateyaunga.

Teams

Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, E Jalai, K Moyo, E Moyo, F Makarati, T Shandirwa (M Magwaza, 87′), D Mudadi (A Musiiwa, 65′), J Makunike, E  Ziocha (D Mukamba, 87′) Madera (J Bakari, 65′), N Chintuli (T Makanda, 87′)

Caps United: T Mateyaunga, G Murwira, I Zambezi, K Madzongwe, L Mangaira, J Ngodzo (R Chinyengetere, 47′), I Nyoni (P Bhamusi, 70′), J Thulani, B Sarupinda, W Manondo, C Rupiya

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Mukudzei Chingwere Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe is facing a menacing drug and substance abuse scourge which, if unchecked, has the potential to affect an entire generation, and the church has an obligation to partner Government to fight off this menace, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said yesterday.

He said this when he joined fellow Roman Catholic Church parishioners in commemorating the St Matthew Celebration Day in Glen View, Harare, yesterday.

His call comes as Government has rolled out several strategies to fight drugs and substance abuse, which has affected many young people, and even some elderly people.

With the church being a beacon of moral rectitude, Vice President Chiwenga has called on the church to participate in the fight against drug abuse.

“The nation is faced with the scourge of drug and substance abuse especially by our youth,” said Vice President Chiwenga.

“These illicit substances have destroyed the mental, physical and psychological wellbeing of a number of our young people throughout the country. Zimbabwe cannot prosper without the youth.

“I urge the church to join hands with the Government to fight drug abuse and protect our communities as well as the nation at large from the effects of drug and substance abuse.”

Vice President Chiwenga said if people do not join hands in the fight against drug abuse, more people, mainly youths, would be affected.

“As Government, we appreciate the role of the youth in the socio-economic development of the country. Therefore, let us all play our roles in nurturing them to be upstanding and responsible citizens.

“The future of this country belongs to the youth,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice President Chiwenga congratulated parishioners at St Matthew Catholic Church in Glen View for taking up a church construction project.

He said the move was in line with the Government’s thrust of encouraging infrastructure development.

Vice President Chiwenga also called on the church to consider several other projects like construction of educational facilities, youth centres, vocational training centres, ICT centres, sports centres and libraries.

He said he had been informed that just like other institutions in Zimbabwe, St Matthew Catholic Church was facing financial challenges, but urged them to be resourceful and sustain the development of their church.

“I am informed that since 2014, the parishioners of St Matthew have been undertaking various fundraising activities towards the construction of the church.

“I am happy with the progress that has been achieved to date. As the Government’s mantra says, ‘Nyika inovakwa, nekunamatirwa nevene vayo (Ilizwe lakhiwa, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo’.

“What we have witnessed here today is testimony that you are not only praying for the nation, asi muri kuyivakawo zvekare (but you are also building it).

“Allow me at this point, to applaud the church’s visionary leadership, and the financial support you gave as congregants, to ensure the success of the church project. I say well done!” said Vice President Chiwenga.

He encouraged the Roman Catholic Church in general, and the Glen View parish in particular, to extend their efforts to the surrounding community by spearheading projects that benefit the nation.

Vice President Chiwenga donated US$10 000 towards the completion of the church, which is nearing completion.