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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
A LEADING security company yesterday donated five luxury bus tickets for Bulawayo players who are still stuck with the Mighty Warriors at the Zifa Village in Harare to return home. The development comes after reports that the girls were told yesterday that Zifa was waiting for Caf to release the Chan prize-money for the Warriors so that they would be able to pay the girls their outstanding allowances.
“The girls were told point blank that there was no money so they should go home and wait for their allowances while at home,” said a source.
Nokel Security chief executive officer Kenneth Mhlophe said he was disturbed both as a parent and football follower when he read in the Press that the girls were stuck in Harare and were being fed on a poor diet.
“Bring our girls back home, that’s the message I am sending to the authorities and this token of appreciation should be enough for them to get back home. I was really hurt when I saw the story in your paper,” said Mhlophe soon after handing over the donation to the Zifa regional women’s football boss Elizabeth Langa yesterday afternoon.
The five Bulawayo girls still stuck in Harare are Prisca Khumalo (New Orleans), Sicelo Dube (New Orleans), Nokuthula “Maroe” Ndlovu (New Orleans), Nobuhle Majika (Inline Academy) and Rudo Neshamba (Inline Academy). Langa was more than grateful for the gesture.
“I have no words to express my appreciation for what Nokel Security, through Mhlophe, have just done for those children,” she said.
The girls are part of the 20 as well as the technical team that have been stuck at the Zifa Village in Mount Hampden, a development that has really been an embarrassment to the nation.
They have been there since their heroic performance against Botswana in the African Women Championship qualifier in which they won 2-1 to progress 3-1 on aggregate to the next round where they are due to face Zambia.
While the diet was said to have improved on Wednesday and Thursday, yesterday they had two dry pieces of bread in the morning and they are worried because the nation has seemingly turned against them.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture last night expressed its concern at the treatment of the girl child with the Minister, Andrew Langa saying they had since approached Treasury for some funds to save the situation.
Speaking from Tanzania, Langa said it worried his Ministry that the girls were still stuck in Harare, five days after doing the nation proud.
“That is certainly not how things should have turned out, as government and a Ministry we are extremely worried. However all hope is not lost as we have since approached Treasury for assistance,” said Langa.
Online Reporter