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Langton Nyakwenda
IN another setback for Zimbabwe’s beleaguered football landscape, the country failed to send the women’s national team, The Mighty Warriors to Cote d’Ivoire for the first leg of the 2016 Olympic Games qualifier that was set for Abidjan this afternoon.
This is another blow to beleaguered Zifa president Cuthbert Dube whose leadership of the country’s number one sport has come under intense scrutiny from all corners in recent months.
The cash strapped Zifa failed to raise the $34 000 that was required to fly the girls to Abidjan and the Mighty Warriors now risk a hefty punishment from the world governing body Fifa.
A lengthy ban from international football is now likely for the Mighty Warriors.
Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela confirmed the development which he blamed on the association’s financial predicament.
“Zifa would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that the women’s national soccer team that was supposed to play Cote d’Ivoire tomorrow (today) in an Olympic Games qualifier have failed to fulfill the fixture due to the financial constraints at the association.
“We presented our budgets to Government last year and we made clear our dire financial status. We have also been presenting supplementary budgets to Government and Government is fully aware of our plight. We approached Government to fund this trip but again we were told Government was constrained,” said Gwesela yesterday evening.
He added: “We would like to reiterate that worldwide national teams are funded by their respective governments.
“Without Government support, football in this country will remain in the doldrums. We have advised both Caf and Fifa who are also aware of our financial status. We would like to apologise to the fans, players, technical team and the nation at large. For now we can only await a response from Fifa,” said Gwesela.
The players are reportedly owed about $1 500 each and last Tuesday they staged a sit-in protesting against their working conditions.
The Mighty Warriors were initially set to leave last Friday morning via Johannesburg before the departure was deferred and yesterday distraught senior players who spoke to our Harare Bureau blasted the association.
“They (Zifa) are killing our careers, they seem not to care at all. Imagine no one from the association came to address us about the issue, even up to now we do not know the latest developments,” said one player yesterday afternoon.
Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza declined to comment.
Online Reporter