adminIn February, Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze had hinted that they were courting their South African counterparts for a possible friendly match on Zimbabwe’s Independence Day which falls on April 18.
A game between Zimbabwe and South Africa could have given interim Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels another opportunity to rebuild his squad following the Warriors’ impressive show against Egypt in a World Cup qualifier last month.
Since taking over as caretaker coach Pagels had been short of practice matches as Zifa have only managed to secure Botswana for a match on February 6 before he faced Egypt in Alexandria last month.
And it appears Pagels will have to wait a little longer before he can continue with his exercise of rebuilding the Warriors after Zifa yesterday indicated that Gordon Igesund’s charges will not be able to rekindle their rivalry with Zimbabwe.
“At the present moment South Africa are unable to come as we had wished because they indicated that they are facing some challenges.
“The challenges are that their Premiership has now reached the final home stretch and it will be difficult for clubs to release players for a match that falls outside the Fifa calendar,” said Mashingaidze.
However, Mashingaidze said Zimbabwe will continue pressing for an international next month as they have received inquiries from Malawi and Lesotho.
“Now we await to communicate further with Malawi and Lesotho who have indicated that they are willing to play us.
“We have given the correspondence to Pagels and he will make his input. But we hope to play at least one international friendly towards the end of May,” said Mashingaidze.
Zifa, Mashingaidze said were also working towards the Cosafa Castle Cup in July in Zambia and the African Nations Championship soon after the Cosafa games.
The Warriors will play the winner between Comoros and Mauritius in the first round of the CHAN and if they win the round Zimbabwe will either Zambia or Botswana in the final qualifying round before the 2014 finals in South Africa.
Zimbabwe has qualified for the previous two editions of the CHAN but has never gone beyond the opening round.
“We really need to prepare for the Cosafa and the CHAN matches which are all coming before the World Cup qualifier in September,” said Mashingaidze.
Now with South Africa snubbing the Warriors, Mashingaidze said they will now host a four-team tournament as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
“At the moment we are working on a four-team tournament that should involve the top clubs from last season.
“So we have invited Dynamos, Highlanders, Monomotapa and Chicken Inn but the event is now being handled by the Sports Commission since the Independence Day is a state function,” said Mashingaidze.
Sports Commission’s corporate communications executive Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said Zifa have since presented the proposed budget for the Independence Cup.
“They gave us their budget where they are proposing a four team tournament, starting at semi-finals.
“This being a state function, we have forwarded the budget to the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.
“At the moment we are waiting for the Ministry’s response to the proposal,” said Nheweyembwa.
Chicken Inn are likely to meet Highlanders in the semi-final in Bulawayo while Monomotapa play Dynamos in the other semi-final with the winners clashing during the main
Uhuru celebrations at the National Sports Stadium on April 18.
FC Platinum won the cup last year after beating Motor Action.
Online Reporter