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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Mighty Warriors’ preparations for the Olympics were caught up in the ongoing women’s football squabbles after some clubs loyal to ousted Miriam Sibanda’s leadership recalled their players from camp for weekend league games.
This left coach Shadreck Mlauzi livid as only 12 players remained in camp from the 30 that he had called up.
The players were recalled on Thursday and only returned on Sunday evening to continue with their three-week camp which, however, will see them miss 12 days of national team preparations as those running the league said they will continue with their weekend matches, which are largely social as they use retired referees not recognised by Zifa.
There is also a danger of players getting injured and not being compensated under the Fifa programme as the league, christened the Zimbabwe Women Football Premier League, is not an affiliate of the national association.
“What is happening here is really frightening. It leaves us coaches in a tight situation as our programme is naturally affected. The players are also affected even in terms of their mindset,” said Mlauzi.
Sources said the move by the former women’s football boss was meant to force Zifa into some form of dialogue with the group, which was expelled by the Cuthbert Dube leadership under unclear circumstances.
After their expulsion, Sibanda’s deputy Elizabeth Langa was installed as acting chairperson and was subsequently recognised by the Philip Chiyangwa-led executive committee, a position that riled Sibanda.
“These people still take themselves as the legitimate leadership of women’s football. It might be true because their sacking was glaringly unconstitutional, but I think they are now holding the whole nation to ransom by disrupting national team preparations,” said a source.
However, Northern Region women’s football boss and spokesperson of the group Wilbert Rambanepasi refuted the claims that they were disrupting the Mighty Warriors’ preparations.
“We are actually keeping these girls fit. It was realised that some of these players were employed wherever they are on the basis of them playing football and if they are no longer playing football, it means they might lose their jobs and we don’t want that. The clubs themselves said they wanted to play football,” said Rambanepasi.
Online Reporter