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Sports Reporter
DID ZIFA pay back Simba Bhora, for giving them the bus which the Warriors used ahead of their COSAFA Cup adventure, by having the club’s ‘keeper Simba Chinani being drafted into the squad for the tournament?
Chinani was a last-minute addition to the squad, which was changed about four times, during a chaotic build-up to the tournament, which got underway yesterday.
The ‘keeper has been having a fair season at Simba Bhora, who are having a very good season in the domestic championship, in which they are one of the favourites for the league title.
But Chinani’s name did not feature in any of the tree squads, which were released by the association, amid chaos in their corridors, culminating with coach Jairos Tapera disowning the squads.
Reports have claimed that the squads were being chosen by some ZIFA officials, as was the case ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa earlier this month.
The same officials also chose the players for Norman Mapeza when he was tasked with taking care of the Warriors at the Four Nations friendly tournament in Malawi during the FIFA international friendly window.
Chinani was a surprise addition to the Warriors squad at the very last minute.
That it coincided with his club, Simba Bhora, giving ZIFA their bus to use for the Warriors, ahead of the trip to South Africa, has led to a number of conspiracy theories.
“It’s hard not to tie the two things, especially with everything that has been happening at ZIFA when it comes to the Warriors,” said a source.
“Maybe, ZIFA wanted to thank Simba Bhora for the bus and decided to take their ‘keeper to the COSAFA Cup.
“You can’t say that Simba doesn’t deserve his place but it’s the way he was called, from nowhere, which raised eyebrows and it becomes difficult not to associate it with the bus.
“Stranger things are happening but then that is ZIFA for us right now.”
The Warriors get their COSAFA Cup underway with a date against Comoros this afternoon.
Online Reporter