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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
WHILE the Zifa presidium was busy wining and dining with about 80 football administrators and personalities from Bulawayo in Harare, the senior national soccer team’s shambolic preparations for the friendly match against Mozambique at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow continued unabated.
Head coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa was nowhere to be seen, with the Warriors head of delegation Sydney Madzvimbo saying he expected him in the city last night. Assistants Callisto Pasuwa and Mkhuphali Masuku took the Warriors through their paces including the physical part as there was no fitness trainer.
Team doctor Nic Munyongo joined the team during the afternoon session at White City Stadium, meaning there was no medical personnel during the morning session.
Highlanders’ goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya pulled out of training to attend trials with an unnamed South African side, forcing the coaches to call in Chicken Inn’s Liberty Chirava as cover as that would have left only Dynamos’ imposing goalkeeper George Chigova.
There were two goalkeepers’ trainers, Richard Tswatswa and Triangle United’s Gift Muzadzi. About 80 football administrators and personalities were yesterday bussed to Harare for an “all stakeholders meeting” with the Zifa leadership at a time the national football association is claiming that it is broke.
All the football administrators from the second largest city in the country boarded the bus, leaving the region’s secretary general Madzvimbo to take care of the national team.
Injuries forced out Hwange’s Nkosana Siwela and How Mine’s promising player Warren Dube while Harare City’s Silas Songani was not in attendance as he was said to be on his way from trials also in South Africa.
However, the players looked in high spirits as they went through their paces under the watchful eyes of their coaches. Meanwhile, the Warriors opponents Mozambique failed to land at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport as expected yesterday afternoon but officials said they were expected to land last night.
“They are now coming straight to Harare then board an Air Zimbabwe flight this evening (yesterday) coming to Bulawayo,” said Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.
The Mambas were expected to touch down in Bulawayo on Thursday but didn’t turn up with Zifa assuring the nation that they would touch down yesterday afternoon.
There are fears that all this confusion is deliberately caused by people who are not happy with the decision to switch the national team base from the capital to Bulawayo.
Online Reporter