I have no regrets: Cuthbert Dube

the senior team’s failed 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Dube also rescued the national Under-23 side in their failed bid to secure a place at the 2011 All-Africa Games which were staged in Maputo, Mozambique in September with the Young Warriors falling to South Africa at the last hurdle.

In one instance, the Zifa boss had to use the title deeds to his house to secure a bank loan that ensured that the Warriors flew to Bamako for their Group A clash against Mali in March.
With Zifa struggling for resources, Dube also had to use his personal funds to help the association to charter a flight for the Warriors for their opening Group A game against Liberia in Monrovia in September last year.

Despite sacrificing his personal resources, Dube just like many Zimbabweans, was left disappointed after neither the Warriors nor the Young Warriors managed to qualify in their continental assignments.
Dube, however, dismissed the notion within some in the local football fraternity that his resources had gone to waste following the Warriors’ failure in which they eventually finished third in a Group A that was won by Mali with Cape Verde a close second.

The Harare business executive said it was imperative that people remembered that his assistance to Zifa had not started with his election to the post of president in March last year.
“I started way back in 2001 to assist Zifa, paying salaries for their staff, paying the costs of running the Eastern Region where I started off as chairman and by the way I still help that region. I also give a quarterly grant of US$500 to each of the 10 provinces to help them with their projects.

“Although we were all disappointed that the Warriors didn’t make it to the Nations Cup finals, I have no regrets at all for having helped them and I know they can do better next time.
“My assistance for the Warriors is all in line with the vision that I have for our football. I have noticed that the biggest cancer affecting our football is lack of funding, funding that is also key to motivating these young players and availing all the resources that enable them to have a good training camp, travel well and to keep them focussed.

“So I am not feeling any regrets that I wasted my resources . . . actually I think that my efforts are bearing fruits in that it has helped to develop the game. The Sylvia Dube Memorial which was an Eastern Region competition we have now even it to women’s football and it will now be a tournament for them.
“So like I said I have been helping Zifa since 2001 and maybe the only difference is that in the past I was doing it from behind the scenes not because of my Zifa presidency,” Dube said.

Dube challenged the domestic game to forge ahead in the aftermath of the Warriors’ failure to secure a place at the Nations Cup finals to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial from January 22 and February 12.
The Zifa president also felt that the restructuring they have undertaken at the association’s headquarters will help strengthen their administrative capacity.
“In terms of 2012 AFCON it came and went so we should not lose much sleep now, we have to avail resources to our coaches and there must be a plan now to invest on our policies and develop the Under-17,

Under-20 and Under-23 teams. We need to put a lot of effort in that and I am glad that the grassroots project has now been signed It’s all to do with continuity ahead of the 2013 Nations Cup and the 2014 World Cup campaigns”.

Dube said he is also happy to note the improved relationship between Zifa and the Government.
“In the past Zifa never used to provide a budget to well on time which should be considered for the national fiscus because this national team cannot succeed without Government.

“Preparations are important in that we have to start getting ready for 2013 now and government must be the principal sponsor in this campaign and the rest including the corporate world will follow”.
Dube, however, lauded the government for chipping in with financial support that enabled the Warriors to travel to Cape Verde for their final Group A qualifier in Praia.

“We must thank the Government for ensuring that the team travelled to Cape Verde otherwise we would have been suspended and fined heavily by Caf,” Dube said.