adminTHE Zimbabwe Football Association would like to dismiss allegations of financial abuse of government funds by ZIFA officials attributed to a debate in Parliament on the 8th of July 2015.
ZIFA challenges those making unfounded allegations to produce evidence and support their claims.
These dangerous and baseless allegations have a tendency to scare away potential sponsors.
Furthermore, it is true the Warriors had to travel by road to Malawi, after they had refused to board a plane due to allowances deadlock.
We had paid for return tickets and the Warriors travelled by plane back home.
All payments can be verified at Malawi Airlines offices and receipts are also available for inspection at ZIFA Head office.
Had the Warriors not utilised the available option of travelling by bus, the country would have been heavily sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football.
ZIFA would like to categorically state that it only received $6000.00 from the Government through the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, but the cost of allowances alone that the team demanded amounted to $42 000.00.
The trend worldwide is that national football teams are sponsored by their respective governments.
It is admitted that ZIFA is facing financial challenges, it has never abdicated from its primary responsibility of servicing national teams.
ZIFA would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that the money we received from the government for 2017 African Cup of Nations fixture against Malawi was utilised as follows:
CONTRIBUTIONS
Contribution by ZIFA Partner $10 000
Contribution by Ministry of Sports, Arts & Culture $6 000
TOTAL – $16 000
Airfares breakdown
Contribution by ZIFA partner $10000
Contribution by the Ministry of Sport, arts and culture $3 646
Airfares Total Cost $13,646
Government Contribution balance ($2,354)
Senior National Team Allowances $ 1,080
Contingency to Malawi $500
Medicals $200
Food $200
One night accommodation at Daisy Lodge $374
SUB TOTAL $ 2354
GRAND TOTAL FROM GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION $ 6000
Men
Zimbabwe vs Cameroon (African games qualifiers) both legs
Zimbabwe vs Swaziland (U23 CAF Championship qualifiers) both legs
Women
Zimbabwe vs Ghana (African Games) both legs
Zimbabwe vs Zambia (Olympic Qualifiers) both legs
Contrary to claims from some quarters, the Association catered for all expenses for the women Ghana trip including airfares and accommodation.
The Association paid $27 750.00 for airfares and $12 240 for allowances. ZIFA did not receive financial help from any benefactor.
Once more ZIFA would like to thank the Government for their unwavering support against a background of liquidity challenges obtaining in the country. — zifa.org.
Online Reporter