Time for Zim to prove critics wrong

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The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup roared into life yesterday in New Zealand but for Zimbabwe the real journey begins today against the Proteas of South Africa.

The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup roared into life yesterday in New Zealand but for Zimbabwe the real journey begins today against the Proteas of South Africa.

Inside Sport with Michael Kariati

No team goes onto the pitch believing that they have already lost the game even though they play a team full of stars. In that regard, I was encouraged by the Chevrons’ promises that they would spring surprises at the World Cup and reach the Super Eight stage.

Led by Captain Elton Chigumbura, all the team members were singing the same tune. But now is the time for them to fulfill the promises they made to the nation at large.

Four teams from the seven-team grouping will sail through to the Super Eight stage.

The Chevrons need to produce something more astounding than they have done of late to bring back the belief people used to have in the team.

To be honest, the likes of Ireland and the United Arab Emirates might not present much of a big problem but to say Zimbabwe will come out of a group that also includes India, the West Indies, and Pakistan on top of the Proteas, would be expecting too much.

It is a fact that patriotism is one word that dominates discussion in Zimbabwe, but in as much as I would like to be patriotic, I do not want to give Zimbabweans a false sense of hope.

Critics argue that the Chevrons are not in any way in the same class with India, the West Indies, Pakistan, and the Proteas, adding that the Zimbabweans will not stand a chance, and I seem to agree. They are of the opinion that small run defeats in the group will be better than heavy defeats, like the damage that was done in the team’s tour of Bangladesh.

That said. It is now up to the Chevrons themselves to prove all the critics wrong.

Reduce gate charges The Premier Soccer League might not admit it, but one thing that was abundantly clear last season was the huge drop in crowd attendances at matches.

Due to the change in the economic climate, football at $3 on top of other expenses like transport has become a bit expensive.

The reason why the game is played is to entertain and thrill the thousands of paying fans who attend the matches.

It does not make sense for a game involving clubs in the top flight football league to be played before a crowd of less than 200 people, most of whom would have used privilege cards to attend the match. We saw it in the One Wallet Cup final between Triangle and Dynamos that fans are now resisting these charges as the economic situation no longer allows such a luxury.

Less than 10 000 people were there to watch Dynamos which used to attract close to, or over 20 000 when playing small teams like Gunners or Black Rhinos.

Dynamos themselves, widely regarded as the most popular football team in the country, have admitted that things have not only gone bad in terms of crowd attendances, but that they have reached unacceptable levels.

In this regard, the Premier Soccer League should find ways and means of bringing back the crowds that have deserted the stadiums. PSL should come with ways to try and lure back thousands of fans who have resorted to watching football on television either in their homes or drinking spots.

One of those ways is to reduce the gate charges. Some have suggested that the league reduce the cheapest seat to $2 and others have even suggested $1.

The decision, however, lies with the PSL assembly itself. But one thing for sure, things will get even worse this season if they do not take heed.

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