Cash boost for Warriors

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
GOVERNMENT yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to the Warriors’ cause when they unveiled a US$88 000 package for the senior team’s preparations for the African Nations Championship. The Warriors have been in camp in Harare ahead of their third successive appearance at the CHAN finals, albeit with some logistical challenges and inadequate resources owing to cash-strapped Zifa’s financial plight.

But the Warriors were all smiles yesterday after the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa hosted a luncheon for them at the lodge they are staying and revealed that Government had released US$88 000 for their upkeep and preparations.

The minister also delivered a message of encouragement to coach Ian Gorowa and his men ahead of their departure for Cape Town next Monday.

The Warriors, who have been in camp for the past two weeks under the surveillance of coach Gorowa and his assistants Callisto Pasuwa and Mkhuphali Masuku and goalkeepers coaches Richard Tswatswa and Gift Muzadzi, will face the Atlas Lions of Morocco in their opening game at Athlone Stadium on January 12.

Langa, who was accompanied by his deputy Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, Sport and Recreation Commission director-general Charles Nhemachena and senior officials from the ministry, addressed the players and the technical team and then had a private meeting after the luncheon to hear the team’s concerns.

Five Zifa board members — Mavis Gumbo, John Phiri, Willard Manyengavana, Nigel Munyati and Fungai Chihuri — the association’s chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze and members of his secretariat were also present.

The minister said the Government was cognisant of the challenges that the national team has been facing in camp and said his ministry would do its best in the future to avoid last-minute interventions.

“Government’s support for the Warriors in particular and development of the game of football will not falter at all. My ministry is committed to walking with the Warriors at all times.

“For this preparation that we are making here, we have managed to source support for the essential budget line that include your travel costs, your accommodation, your upkeep as you are in this tournament and also your allowances.

“We met myself, deputy minister Thabitha Malinga , minister (Patrick) Chinamasa, permanent secretary Dr (Thokozile) Chitepo and our director of finance Cde Hamadziripi and US$88 000 was approved for your upkeep, your travel to South Africa and also your allowances.

“Yes I am happy that you do appreciate that initiative but at the same time I would want to say we should not be coming to you at the last minute. That’s wrong honestly. We should have made this arrangement before you even came to camp here but yes we appreciate the problems that we are walking through as Government.

“But I am happy that His Excellency (Presdient Robert Mugabe) and his Government is in support of this CHAN tournament and that’s why we have received this money for your travel and so on,” said Langa.

The minister also acknowledged the sacrifices made by the players and made special mention of their coach Gorowa who has gone the extra mile to ensure the Warriors have decent preparations.

Gorowa had proposed a six-week marathon camp in South Africa but that could not materialise because of lack of resources.
The minister said Government regretted lack of support for national teams and urged all associations to clean up their act in order to attract sponsorship from the business community.

Langa said the Government was saddened by the problems that rocked the team’s preparations and also apologised for their late response, which he said meant a bleak Christmas holidays for the Warriors.

“I know that your families are concerned. You have been here for the last three weeks now, I am sure, and you had to go through a Christmas that had nothing on the table and I would want to say that we are sorry.

“You are representing, not yourselves. You are representing all of us as a nation and also as a Government. It is therefore our role together with the corporate world that we should all support you. I am sure you will not fail us at any stage if we walk with you,” said Langa.

However, the money released yesterday cannot cover the duration of the tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on January 11 and finish on February 1, and Langa urged the business community to chip in as the Government is saddled by huge responsibilities.
Zifa, who are reeling under a crippling debt of over US$4 million, have been struggling to ensure the Warriors and other national teams are well serviced in order to meet their international obligations.

“Our national pride is at stake and definitely my ministry will not allow this game to disintegrate. That is the reason why His Excellency created a stand-alone Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture.

“Whatever we do and everybody else in the ministry we have to talk sport every day, drink sport, eat sport and so on. That is the reason why we decided to come and join you for lunch because this is our core mandate as a ministry.

“At the same time we are trying to build confidence within the sports industry so that we can also invite the corporate world to assist our national teams.

“The corporate world will not support us if they are suspicious of what we are doing within football, within cricket or within basketball. Definitely they will never bother.

“What is important is that the SRC must build that confidence which used to be there in this country.
“Then obviously the corporate world and the business community would support us.

“We will not allow a situation where someone decides to fail us as a ministry because of greedy interests. That we will not allow. If it means we have to dissolve some boards and come up with some new ones we will do so because our mandate is to rebuild sports and culture in this country but we cannot do that overnight,” said Langa.