The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has announced they will attend the 2015 COSAFA Cup in South Africa despite the xenophobic attacks being suffered there.
The recent wave of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa has led to calls for Southern African football associations to boycott the annual event.
However, ZIFA has decided against missing the tournament in protest, saying that attending the tournament would carry a far stronger message.
"The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that Zimbabwe will not boycott the 2015 COSAFA Tournament to be hosted by South Africa," ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela told the organisation's official website.
The recent wave of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa has led to calls for Southern African football associations to boycott the annual event.
However, ZIFA has decided against missing the tournament in protest, saying that attending the tournament would carry a far stronger message.
"The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that Zimbabwe will not boycott the 2015 COSAFA Tournament to be hosted by South Africa," ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela told the organisation's official website.
"The association takes great exception to the nefarious xenophobic violence and we condemn these brutal acts with the contempt they deserve.
"While we do not condone xenophobia, we believe that boycotting the tournament is not the appropriate measure to deal with these ghastly malpractices.
"We believe that two wrongs do not make a right and Zimbabwe is a respected member of COSAFA hence we will cooperate fully to ensure that our regional tournament succeeds.
"We are of the considered view that the COSAFA tournament itself will send a clear message to perpetrators of violence that regardless of different nationalities, people can exist in harmony.
"The COSAFA tournament will inevitably demonstrate that football has unquestionable power to surpass borders and nationalities.
"The tournament will also reveal that that football is a gigantic agent for peace.
"Every goal that Zimbabwe is going to score during the COSAFA tournament will be a bold message against xenophobia," he concluded.
"While we do not condone xenophobia, we believe that boycotting the tournament is not the appropriate measure to deal with these ghastly malpractices.
"We believe that two wrongs do not make a right and Zimbabwe is a respected member of COSAFA hence we will cooperate fully to ensure that our regional tournament succeeds.
"We are of the considered view that the COSAFA tournament itself will send a clear message to perpetrators of violence that regardless of different nationalities, people can exist in harmony.
"The COSAFA tournament will inevitably demonstrate that football has unquestionable power to surpass borders and nationalities.
"The tournament will also reveal that that football is a gigantic agent for peace.
"Every goal that Zimbabwe is going to score during the COSAFA tournament will be a bold message against xenophobia," he concluded.
By: Farai Diza
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