By Jafferson Ndhlovu,
IN a bid to have massive numbers at the giant National Sports Stadium,Zimbabwe Football Association has pegged the entry charges to match between Zimbabwe and Liberia at probably an all time low.
The pricing has been necessitated by the dwindling numbers of football fans attending local matches in recent past. Even traditional local crowd pullers in the form Dynamos and Highlanders have been struggling to get the right numbers to fill the stadiums.
It has not been a good story in terms of attendance for matches. It could be for this reason that Zifa has set the cheapest ticket to fly at $3.00.
For an international match of this magnitude, its at a far lower pricing than what was expected. It is even lower than some local matches will cost. Teams like Dynamos, Caps and Highlanders would normally charge $5.00 for the cheapest ticket.
But this could be seen as a good move to the paying fans by the association. Zimbabwe needs the numbers for that 12th player. The higher the decibels from the fans the likelihood it could work to unsettle the visitors.
Meanwhile interim coach Norman Mapeza has called for unity ahead of the match of Sunday.
Its been an eventful week especially with the way especially the involvement of team Manager Wellington Mpandare in the steam of things. Accusing and counter accusing Khama Billiat and his handlers at Mamelodi Sundowns.
One person that was almost swallowed into this hullabaloo was legend for Zimbabwe international Peter Ndlovu. He had to fly to Harare with an injured Billiat just to clear his loyalty and reignite his unwavering loyalty to his country.
Zifa the country’s governing football motherbidy was in the press to defend the blundering Mpandare. And that was expected.
Mapeza is calling on for calm this Sunday afternoon.
“We need to be united, this is football, not politics, “ said Mapeza.
“We need everyone to come and support the tea.”
“We are going to do this for the country and I wish everybody comes and gives the boys maximum support.
“We have to win this game at all costs added Mapeza.
Zimbabwe needs the home three points. On paper Liberia looks like they are ones to get those maximum points from considering other opponents in group, DRC and Congo.