adminGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
THE Warriors got a morale-booster ahead of their 2014 World Cup qualifer match against Mozambique tomorrow at Rufaro when they got a financial injection of US$22 500 in winning bonuses. The Zimbabwe senior soccer team received US$12 500 from the Zifa president Cuthbert Dube for qualifying for the CHAN tournament.
They further received US$10 000 from a businessman who requested Zifa to keep his identity a secret.
The cash donation from Dube saw each player and members of the technical team walking away with US$400 from the two-legged matches against Zambia ― US$300 winning bonus for the victory in Ndola and a further US$100 each for the goalless draw against Chipolopolo at Rufaro last month.
There is renewed hope and excitement within the national team and Dube believes this could provide the platform to make a very competitive Warriors’ side.
This follows their qualification for the CHAN tournament to be held in South Africa in January.
Warriors coach Ian Gorowa has said that he will use this platform to rebuild the national team.
The gaffer has opted to use home-based players for the last World Cup qualifier in which both Zimbabwe and the Mambas are now merely playing for pride.
Only Kaizer Chiefs’ midfielder Willard Katsande is likely to play as a foreign-based player.
On Tuesday, the Warriors will clash with South Africa at Orlando Stadium in Soweto in an international friendly.
However, the coach has opted to use for this game some of the players plying their trade in the South African Premiership.
Another well wisher has also donated a vehicle which will be used by Gorowa.
During the presentation of the donation Dube, who has bankrolled the national team from his pocket on numerous occasions, pledged to continue supporting the team.
He even said if he is to lose the Zifa elections next year he will continue to fund the team financially.
Dube attacked the social media networks, including ghost Facebook character Baba Jukwa, for saying bad things about him.
“There are those small minds and I don’t think I need to give time to small minds at all.
“I have been supporting football in this country for many many years, who doesn’t know Buymore Football Club here?
“So, it is not true that I have got agendas. What do I get in being Zifa president, if anything, I actually lose but I see l am being written on Facebook and so forth.
“I don’t give a damn to that type of a thing. I am going to do more. I don’t listen to stupid minds, small-minded people. I will not listen to that because there is an agenda.
“That perhaps I am going to cow down but not this type. Your president has got the lives of 15 elephants in one.
“So forget, go and write more and more and I will be pouring more and more into the national team, it’s our national cause and we need to do so.
“There is going to be breaking news next week and those detractors are going to be shell-shocked,” said Dube.
The Zifa president said they were hoping that a separate Sports Ministry would be put in place.
He revealed that they have also been doing some serious lobbying for the creation of the ministry behind the scenes.
Dube added that they have also organised for the national team which qualified for CHAN to be introduced to President Mugabe when the schedule permits.
Speaking at the same forum, Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said they have received from Fifa the statements that were written by the 16 football officials who were banned from the game by the association.
The mother body is now expected to analyse the statements.
Online Reporter