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A day which started with the Warriors refusing to train, demanding a review of their daily allowances and a juicier bonus, ended on a peaceful note yesterday. Things appeared to be going off the rails in the morning when Ian “Dibango” Gorowa’s charges refused to board the bus that was supposed to ferry them to a morning workout at the National Sports Stadium, citing a plethora of misgivings.
The players were, among other things, demanding that Zifa up their daily allowances from US$15 as well as undertake to pay them US$2 000 each for safely negotiating past the hurdle posed by Tanzania in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this afternoon.
The soccer governing body had offered a US$700 winning bonus.
The players, most of whom feel cheated after failing to receive the bonuses they were promised for reaching the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship in South Africa early this year, felt the figure was a pittance.
Coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa had wanted to finalise his starting XI at a training session that was slated for the match venue at 10am, but was left a livid man as his men demanded to meet the Zifa leadership.
With the Zifa leadership locked in a board meeting at the Zifa Village, the matter dragged on for a couple of hours.
However, normalcy was restored just before lunch, with the two parties reaching an “amicable agreement” and the Warriors heading for training.
Zifa boss Cuthbert Dube and his board later visited the team to “cement” the agreement.
Online Reporter