Warriors stranded in Tanzania

Norman Mapeza’s developmental side featured home-based players and were knocked out of the tournament on Tuesday after losing 1-0 to Uganda in the quarter-finals.
They were expected home by Thursday but up to yesterday they were still holed up in Dar es Salaam waiting for their tickets home.
Only a few officials managed to secure their return air tickets.

Sources said the team had initially been booked on an earlier flight after the travel agents who organised their trip assumed they would lose in the group stages.
Zimbabwe powered past the group stages and reached the quarter-finals.
The team had complained of substandard accommodation facilities in Tanzania.

Zifa Communications manager Nicholette Moyo-Dhlamini confirmed yesterday the team was still stranded but said measures were being taken to fly them back home.
She said the organisers had managed to secure four seats for the head of delegation Owen Chandamale, assistant coach Mkhuphali Masuku, goalkeepers’ coach Richard Tswatswa and the travelling team doctor who arrived yesterday.

“The team is still in Tanzania as the organisers are failing to get them seats on early flights following their exit on Tuesday,” she said.
“They secured four seats for HOD, goalkeepers’ coach, Mkhuphali and the team doctor who have since arrived home.
“They have secured tickets for 12 more people (arriving today) with the rest expected on Sunday (tomorrow),” she said.

Zimbabwe were invited as replacements for Namibia who had turned down the offer to take part in the tournament as one of the guest nations.
The Warriors however blew hot and cold at the tournament but managed to reach the knockout stage after finishing second in Group A, which included Rwanda, Djibouti and hosts Tanzania.

They had two victories in the round robin stage when they dismissed Djibouti 2-0 and went on to shock Tanzania 2-1 to progress to the last eight.
They lost once in the group stages to Rwanda in between the two wins.

But their campaign finally came to an end on Tuesday when they crashed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of record holders Uganda, who are seeking their 12th title.
Uganda will play Rwanda in the final today after beating Tanzania 3-1 in the semifinals on Thursday. – Harare Bureau.