dyton mupawaenda
Bruce Chikuni in PORT ELIZABETH , South Africa
THE ZIFA Normalisation Committee and their overzealous secretariat have been left embarrassed by FIFA after they were ordered to withdraw five members from their bloated COSAFA Cup delegation that is in South Africa for the regional football tournament.
Our source in the Normalisation Committee told Zimpapers Sport that FIFA declined to release more funding after questioning the size of the Zimbabwe delegation.
FIFA wondered why ZIFA decided to duplicate roles for the same tournament where they had even threatened to pull out after citing lack of adequate funds.
Following ZIFA’s displeasure, the Normalisation Committee were left with no option, but to order chief executive Yvonne Mapika Manwa to recall five officials.
Those sacrificed include security officer Emmanuel Mutumani, performance analyst Simon Marange, team media officer Wonder Mphepo, goalkeepers coach Zivanai Kawadza and competitions manager Simbarashe Gochera.
This leaves Zimbabwe without a media liaison officer in South Africa since Mphepo was supposedly holding forte in the absence of ZIFA communications manager Mike Madoda.
Surprisingly, before the exclusion of the quintet the Warriors were the only team in at the COSAFA Cup with two goalkeepers’ presiding over three goalminders with Pernell McKop having been roped in to work with Simba Bhora’s Kawadza.
The Warriors were also the only side, who had two performance analysts, Simon Marange and James Makoni.
Some officials are said to have initially warned the Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa, but the veteran administrator probably felt there was some strength in numbers forgetting that it is FIFA who are paying the bills.
Those who have been ordered back home left Port Elizabeth where the tournament is taking place early this morning.
Online Reporter