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Ishemunyoro Chingwere in CAPE TOWN, South Africa
THE Warriors have been reminded that they are not on holiday here and should challenge for honours when they open their campaign in the African Championship of Nations finals tomorrow against Morocco.Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, said the Warriors should not be satisfied by just qualifying for the tournament’s finals.
The Warriors plunge into battle at 5pm and the match is live on SuperSport 4 and SuperSport 4HD. The local ensemble of the national football side are here preparing for their third consecutive onslaught of the CHAN finals and Langa arrived on Thursday to give Government’s support to coach Ian Gorowa and his men.
The arrival by the minister, a gesture last seen back in 2006 when the then Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Aeneas Chigwedere accompanied the Warriors to Egypt for the African Cup of Nations finals, is the strongest indication that Government is now taking a pro-active role in the development of sport.
The Warriors are bidding for, at least, a place in the knock-out phase in the finals of a tournament for the first time after having previously failed in four attempts, twice at the African Cup of Nations and twice at CHAN.
Langa, whose ministry sourced US$88 000 for the team before its departure, said his presence at the team’s base is a sign his ministry was committed to see the team do very well.
“We have come here to cheer our own, to cheer those that stand as our representatives, those that will carry our flag onto the international stage and we really feel they need our support in this worthy cause,” Langa told The Herald.
“We really need to perform well and make our people proud and I have no doubt that if the group here can only have belief and confidence, we will go all the way.
“You are aware His Excellence (President Mugabe) is very passionate about sport and he will be a very happy man to see our boys standing tall against their African counterparts.”
The football mother body Zifa, through chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze, was humbled by the minister’s gesture and said they hope it will inspire the corporate world to come on board and support the national side.
“This is an endorsement by Government. Its shows the seriousness they are now attaching to us and the Warriors and our hope is it will trickle down to corporate,” said Mashingaidze.
“The boys should appreciate this honour bestowed on them by the Minister and we would also want to thank the ministry for the interventions they have come up with.
“The Minister has since told us that work is in progress to try and secure more funding for the purposes of incentivising the team over and above the funds they released earlier on.”
Langa is staying here throughout the weekend and will witness the official opening of the tournament at Cape Town Stadium today before watching the Warriors’ Group B opener against Morocco tomorrow at the Athlone Stadium.
Online Reporter