adminFungai Muderere
I WILL survive! These are words synonymous with a ditched girlfriend or a boyfriend who just received a Dear John letter and veteran football coach Barry Daka falls in that bracket.
He says he does not harbour hard feelings against the countrya��s football governing body Zifa and its leaders after he, alongside four other Mighty Warriors players, were dropped from the historic trip to Brazil for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Daka is the Mighty Warriors technical director but he was not afforded the opportunity to travel with the team to Brazil after the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) made a provision to foot the travelling bill for only 18 players and seven officials.
The players that did not make the flight to Brazil are Danai Bhobho, Vaness Lunga, Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri and Nobukhosi Ncube.
a�?Ia��m a human being. I felt the pain but I cannot say Ia��m down and out,a�? said Daka.
Zifa was initially supposed to make sure he travels with the team after ZOC said it would pay for only 25 in the travelling party.
a�?Zifa were supposed to chip in for me and those four players that remained,a�? he added.
He understands that Zifa is broke.
a�?Our football has been dogged by so many problems. Zifa does not have money and I would like to urge the nation to rally behind the Mighty Warriors,a�? added the former Young Warriors gaffer who is also engaged as juniors coach at Bulawayo City Football Club.
The Mighty Warriors made their Olympic debut on Wednesday night, when they faced Germany in a match at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Zimbabwea��s next match will be against Canada on Saturday at the same venue and kick-off time is 8pm.
They will then travel to Salvador for their last group match against Australia on Tuesday at the Fonte Nova Arena and the match will start at 9pm.
The top two teams and two best third-placed teams across the three groups of four will advance to the quarter-finals.
Mighty Warriors Squad:
Kudakwashe Bhasopo, Eunice Chibanda, Chido Dzingirai, Erina Jeke, Daisy Kaitano, Rejoice Kapfumvuti, Lindiwe Magwede, Rutendo Makore, Sheila Makoto, Talent Mandaza, Emmaculate Msipa, Lynett Mutokuto, Felistas Muzongondi, Rudo Neshamba, Marjory Nyaumwe, Samkelisiwe Zulu, Mavis Chirandu, Nobuhle Majika.
Technical Team:
Shadreck Mlauzi (head coach), Sithethelelwe Sibanda (assistant coach), Yohane Chikaola (assistant coach), Peter Masibera (goalkeepera��s coach), Dorothy Masawi (doctor), Sharon Mashingaidze (physiotherapist), Charity Mudzviti (manager).
Online Reporter