Zifa will today meet with the Sudanese Embassy in Harare in a bid to end the FC Platinum-El Merreikh impasse over accommodation ahead of their Caf Champions League clash at Mandava Stadium next Saturday.
Caf had stated Platinum need to change the match venue considering Zvishavane does not have suitable accommodation to host Merreikh, although the Sudanese had pointed out they could stay in Masvingo.
Masvingo is 95km away from the match venue. By last night Zifa had not received any communication from Caf on the issue of Merreikh, who proposed a chartered flight from Harare while they would be staying in Masvingo.
Platinum has engaged Zifa to negotiate with the Airforce of Zimbabwe to charter one of their flights for the Sudanese delegation.
Surprisingly Caf has not said a word about Hwange’s last opponents in the Confederation Cup, Jamhuri of Zanzibar, who stayed in Victoria Falls 100km from the match venue (Colliery Stadium) before their second leg match three weeks ago.
Said Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze yesterday: “We will meet with the Sudan embassy officials and organise that one of their diplomats accompany them (Merreikh) to Zvishavane.
“We are still working on the logistics for the match despite the fact we have not received any communication from Caf. We have, though, sent them a reminder on the issue and we are positive of a response from them.”
Meanwhile, Caf has appointed match officials for the Platinum-Merreikh, Dynamos’ Champions League return leg against Liga Muculmana next month and the Confederation Cup match between Hwange and El Amal of Sudan.
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The Mauritian trio of Seechurn Ranindraparsad, Bootun Balarihrishan and Vally Vivian will handle the Mandava match while Vanesh Chuporee will be the fourth official. South African Alpha Mchunu will be the match commissioner.
Victor Hlungwani will rekindle his romance with Dynamos after handling last year’s Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final against FC Platinum in Bulawayo — he was appointed to take charge of the Liga Muculmano return leg in Harare.
He will be assisted by Enoch Molefe and Zakhele Siwela with Victor Gomese being the fourth official and Botswana Football Association vice-president Dintle Mphele will be match commissioner.
In Hwange, Malawians Rafael Antony, Moffat Champhiti and Victor Kachimore will handle the coal miners’ match against El Amal, Ngosi Kalayoto will be the fourth official and veteran South African official Ian McLeod being the match commissioner.
The matches will take place on the weekend of March 22-24 and the return legs on April 5-7. The Zimbabwe-Sudan five-aside World Cup qualifier will be handled by Dionisio Machava, Eduardo Mahumane and Pedro Aldino of Mozambique while McLeod will be the fourth official.
