Tsvangirai resorts to soccer for solace

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called on Zimbabweans to rally behind the national soccer team, The Warriors, saying he has unstinting faith in the team and is confident they will shock everyone in Africa by winning the African Cup of Nations tournament and bring back the smiles to the battered souls of the suffering people of Zimbabwe.

He said he would personally go and watch one of the matches at one of the public places in Harare’s townships and enjoy experiencing with fellow Zimbabweans the immense unifying power of football.

“I cherish these moments when we all unite regardless of our political affiliation to cherish sport and to rally behind our nation!,” he said.

“As Zimbabweans, we should all temporarily switch off from our daily grind for survival and root for our brave and heroic sons who have made it to the continent’s biggest soccer fiesta.

“Indeed, for some fleeting moments, football will be our worthwhile distraction from the long bank queues, the worsening political and economic crisis as well as a national leadership that is completely at sea on how to respond to the serious challenges facing the nation.”

Zimbabwe is playing some of Africa’s top football houses- Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia.

The first match against Algeria is on tomorrow.

Full statement

Friday, 13 January 2017

President Tsvangirai's statement to Zimbabwe ahead of the Warriors' participation at the AFCON tournament in Gabon

Beginning this coming Sunday, the senior Zimbabwe national soccer team goes into battle at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Gabon against three of the continent’s football powerhouses in the form of Tunisia, Senegal and Algeria.

As Zimbabweans, we should all temporarily switch off from our daily grind for survival and root for our brave and heroic sons who have made it to the continent’s biggest soccer fiesta.

Indeed, for some fleeting moments, football will be our worthwhile distraction from the long bank queues, the worsening political and economic crisis as well as a national leadership that is completely at sea on how to respond to the serious challenges facing the nation.

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