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The Under-21 team failed to travel to Croatia for their competition, which is currently underway, after failing to get visas while the Under-23 team disappointed when they arrived late for the tournament in Poland which ran from June 5 to 9.
The team, which had complications in securing visas, only arrived in Poland after the technical meeting had been done and the draws already conducted.
The association is now hoping to get everything in place for the Under-19s, who are scheduled to play in Portugal from July 11 to 14.
ZVA president, Fredrick Ndlovu, said the failure by the other two teams to compete at the global events was a sad development as the players had worked hard to earn their places at the competitions after winning the regional qualifiers held early this year.
“We did not travel to Croatia because we did not have visas but we had everything in place, accommodation, food and the air tickets. Tactically we were denied visas because when we submitted our passports at the Embassy in Pretoria they told us they wanted the invitation letter in Croatian language and we wrote to the Croatian federation and we got an email from them.
“They (embassy) then said they needed the original letter, a hard copy and we only got it a day before departure and it was pointless to travel to Pretoria to get the visas.
“It’s a very unfortunate development. The players are devastated, we worked hard with the players.
“We took them to the zonal games where they won and to the continental competition where they won again and now they are suppose to go to the grand stage and we failed because of a visa,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said they are now preparing for the Under-19 championships and will be hoping that they get the visas in time to avoid the same scenario that has seen the other teams failing to fulfil their matches.
Online Reporter