Warriors’ legend, Japhet ” Shortcat” Mparutsa, who runs his Japhet Mparutsa Shortcat Foundation from his base in the United Kingdom, yesterday reacted with shock to the ban imposed on stadiums in Zimbabwe by CAF.

“Yes I am sad, as a Foundation we are sad. I spent nearly 10 years with the national team, and I had an unforgettable journey. I never thought that a day would come when our national team would be forced to play home games away from home because our stadiums are not good enough!
“We sat, watched and did not act when we saw stadiums falling apart. Gwanzura, Rufaro, Dzivarasekwa, NSS, Cam and Motor and now Barbourfields cannot host our national team.

“I cry for our football and I know my departed comrades in the football journey are turning in their graves, too. How can this happen?” fumed Mparutsa.

He said it wasn’t time for the blame game.
“Some are blaming the councils who run these facilities.

Some are blaming the Government for not caring enough about sport despite having a whole ministry responsible for this sector,’’ he said.

“I think they are both to blame because they have failed to work together to ensure that our stadiums are fit for purpose.

“As a Foundation, I think the time is now to correct this situation.

Government should make an effort to restore the nation’s pride, the National Sports Stadium.

“Councils should work hard to restore all stadiums and the community grassroots pitches.

We urge them to find partners who can provide funds so that the process moves fast.’’-State media