Mighty Warriors on strike

Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
JUST when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for beleaguered Zifa, a fresh crisis for the country’s football governing body yesterday when the Mighty Warriors boycotted their afternoon training session.
On Sunday the Warriors bowed out of the Nations Cup in spectacular fashion when they were held to a 2-2 draw by relative lightweights Tanzania in a preliminary round qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.

The Warriors were promised US$15 for each day in camp but wanted the amount reviewed to US$20 while they also wanted assurance that they would be paid US$2 000 for a victory over the Taifa Stars.

As the nation is still battling to come to terms with the pain of missing on the Nations Cup, there was drama in the Mighty Warriors camp at the Zifa Village in Mt Hampden yesterday.

The players, who have been in camp for the past two weeks, had been complaining of a poor diet and yesterday the situation got worse when they refused to go for a scheduled training at Prince Edward School in the afternoon.

The footballers have to overcome a 0-1 deficit when they travel to Zambia for the second leg of the 2014 Women’s Championship this weekend.
Players said they decided to boycott training to get their grievances addressed and yesterday Zimbabwe Women’s Football boss Miriam Sibanda is said to have addressed the players in Mt Hampden.

“We have now packed our bags and are ready to leave camp any time soon,” said one of the players.
In March, fitness trainer Gerald Maguranyanga publicly criticised Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze for the chaos that rocked their camp then.
Maguranyanga said the players barely had enough to eat and it appears that nothing has changed since then.

“We are just getting enough food to keep our souls intact. It would have been better if we were at home and worse off we do not have money to buy any provisions to supplement. “So, this afternoon (yesterday), we refused to train and we only want to be given money for bus fare so that we go home,” said one of the players.
The team is expected to leave for Zambia tomorrow by road.

“We need money for our daily allowances and transport. It’s hard to be in camp and imagine that we were given US$20 for one of the previous international assignments,” said one of the players.

Mashingaidze could not be reached on his mobile phone while communications manager Xolisani Gwesela, who was out of town, said the situation was under control.
“The situation in the camp is not as tense as some would want it to appear, especially on the social networks. The Mighty warriors didn’t refuse to train, they just wanted an engagement with Zifa on how their outstanding allowances will be paid,” said Gwesela.

“We had a very fruitful meeting with the girls and their technical team and all issues were ironed out. Training will go ahead as scheduled tomorrow (today) at 9am. “We would like to make it clear that we shall not abdicate our responsibility to serve this important women’s football portfolio. At the same time we continue to appeal to the government and corporate sponsors to partner the Mighty Warriors.

“National teams worldwide are funded by government and the corporate sponsors and the Mighty Warriors should not be an exception.
“The girls are fully prepared to play Zambia and we wish them the best. Hopefully they will conquer.”