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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
The Sports and Recreation Commission is set to bankroll the Warriors participation at the AFCON 2022 Finals.
Chairman of the Sports and Recreation Commission, Mr Gerald Mlotshwa has confirmed this development.
According to Mr Mlotshwa, the Sports and Recreation Commission will facilitate for the ZIFA secretariat to be availed the necessary budgetary support in order to ensure the Warriors participate at the 2022 AFCON finals. The SRC is in full support of all the efforts being channelled by the current ZIFA secretariat in this regard. A proposed budget of US$800 000 and ZWL 21, 000, 000 has been tabled. This will cover the team’s mobilisation into camp, preparation, travel and participation expenses, up to the end of the group phase of the tournament.
The Sports and Recreation Commission is confident that the ZIFA secretariat will implement the budget allocation responsibly and ensure a successful AFCON 2022 feat
“We are confident that the ZIFA Secretariat will execute this mandate to the best of their ability. As we rally behind them, we will ensure that their budgetary requirements are met. All hands are on deck. At this point the only thing that can hinder Zimbabwe’s participation at the AFCON 2022 finals is if FIFA suspends ZIFA and bars the Warriors from competing. It’s a reality we are fully aware of, and until we hear otherwise from FIFA or CAF, the Warriors are headed for Cameroon”, said Mlotshwa.
Zimbabwe currently do not have a ZIFA board in place following the suspension of the Felton Kamambo led board last month by the SRC. However, the regulator has stepped in and undertaken to meet all the financial obligations related to the national team’s fifth AFCON appearance. The only thing that will hinder or stop Warriors participating at Afcon 2022, according to the regulator will be CAF or FIFA who have not communicated anything in that regard. Zimbabwe risk being banned from the continental show-piece due to Government interference. The Sports Commission suspended the football body and had been consulting FIFA on the way forward.
Yesterday close sources say there was a virtual meeting between the warring parties the axed ZIFA board, Sports Commission and FIFA.
However, sources close to Sports Commission have denied that any meeting of that sort took place but rather all the board’s meeting were in-house meetings.
However, close sources alleged that the meeting between the three parties transpired. It is believed FIFA directed that the Sports Commission restore the suspended ZIFA board.
“Actually this meeting briefly took place last week but was adjourned after suspended ZIFA president Felton Kamambo requested to have other board members join in the virtual meeting since he was the only representative of the under-fire board on the day, and the SRC was fully represented.
“So, yesterday the meeting took place and the Sports Commission were directed to re-install the ZIFA board since their charge sheet does not warrant a suspension.
“But the SRC refused to budge and maintained their position. FIFA even promised to work with both parties to prepare for the elections roadmap, and restoration of football administration in the country.
“After a common position could not be reached in the meeting, FIFA said they will put their position in writing upon which failure to adhere to it will have consequences for them claimed the source. There are fears that the standoff between SRC and suspended ZIFA board might jeopardise Warriors participation at AFCON. The Sports Commission have already said that they are ready to sacrifice the continental show-piece and get the country banned by FIFA. They maintain the decision is for the good of football in the long run.
The ZIFA board was suspended on November 16 and the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, was expected to appoint a normalisation committee.
The Sports Commission board chairman, Gerald Mlotshwa, in announcing the dissolution of the ZIFA board, said they were ready for the long haul. “So, we are prepared in many aspects for whatever might happen, when I say whatever might happen, I am talking of, look, let’s be frank about things, if FIFA moves in and decides to ban Zimbabwean football, we are prepared for that, I think we have planned that.
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