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Zifa have pointed to financial challenges in justifying their withdrawal of the Young Warriors from the Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations as well as the Cosafa Under-17 Championships.
The pulling out from the two developmental competitions flies in the face of president Philip Chiyangwaa��s administration as negligent to junior football.
While a Zifa benefactor Wicknell Chivhayo has been splashing money on the senior national team through buying top-of-the range cars for player as well as taking them for shopping in Europe, he has exposed the lack of attention on junior football.
But Zifa has been quick to defend the Under-17a��s inactivity, saying they are financially incapacitated to send the team for tournaments.
They were supposed to kick off their Under-17 Afcon qualifiers against Comoros while the Cosafa Under-17 Championships began on Friday in Mauritius.
a�?While we value junior football, we had budgetary constraints resulting in our withdrawal from Under-17 Afcon and Cosafa. Football development should be supported by a budget,a�? Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela told supersport.com.
The current Warriors senior team has the likes of Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat and Marvelous Nakamba who played together from Under-17 level, leading to them securing professional contracts with clubs in Europe and South Africa.
Last month, former Under-20 coach Jairos Tapera was complaining about lack of support from Zifa when his team was about to play Cameroon in an Africa Under-20 Nations Cup qualifier. a�� supersport.com
derick.khumalo