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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE beleaguered Zimbabwe Football Association on Monday night averted a possible camp withdrawal by settling the Warriors’ Cosafa allowances ahead of the weekend’s African Nations Championships first round qualifier against Mauritius. According to national team players who lost 0-2 to Zambia in the final of the Cosafa Cup on Saturday, they had threatened to boycott the final after only receiving $50 for their entire stay in Zambia.
For reaching the final, Zimbabwe got prizemoney of R250 000 with Zambia taking home a cool R500 000.
The Warriors were in Zambia for 10 days and spent two days at Zifa Village before their departure for the tournament.
The players said they were shocked when a Zifa employee jetted into Zambia only to give them $50 which was an allowance for two days.
It emerged yesterday that the Zifa employee who went with part of the allowances to Zambia was the association’s spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela.
The players got $50 appearance fees per match.
“Things almost got out of hand in Zambia. On the day of the final, around 11am, the team threatened not to go for the final prompting the Zifa board member Benedict Moyo to come and address us. He promised that we were going to get our money when we get back home,” said a player.
After jetting back on Sunday night, some of the players headed to the Zifa Village with Harare-based boys going to their homes. Those based in the capital city were expected to report at the Zifa Village last night to prepare for the away Chan match against Mauritius.
Faced with a possibility of a player boycott, Zifa on Monday paid the players’ allowances and now owe each player $50 appearance fees for the final.
The players are also anxiously awaiting their share of the R250 000 prizemoney from Zambia.
“On Monday evening we were given the allowances but they still owe us bonuses for reaching the final as well as appearance fees. What is funny about Zifa is that they never seemed to care when we left for Zambia and the players believe that Zifa thought we were going to lose in the quarter-finals and head home but after seeing that we made it all the way to the final, they began having interest. We are of the view that the association is more after money than our welfare.
“It’s only fair that they give us bonuses because we fought hard to be in the final but we are being told that the Zifa president (Cuthbert Dube) is yet to decide on the issue,” said a disgruntled player.
Dube used his funds to charter an Air Zimbabwe plane to take the Warriors to and from Lusaka.
In a telephone interview from his Harare base yesterday, the Zifa spokesman Gwesela refuted claims that they owe players.
“We have paid the players’ allowances in full. Actually I had to fly to Zambia with part of the allowances and we cleared the balance on Monday. Unfortunately I cannot tell you the amounts because that will be tantamount to breach of confidentiality.
“The players were paid in full and if they are disgruntled, then it could be because of other issues,” said Gwesela.
Further pressed to clarify if Zifa settled the bonuses for reaching the final, Gwesela almost lost his cool.
“The association has paid the players their allowances. The problem is that people don’t want to see development in football and they end up bringing things like this. Why don’t you write about the team’s preparations for Chan?” she fumed.
Judging from the Zifa spokesman’s response, the local crop of players who were on duty in Zambia might not get their share of the R250 000 prize money
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derick.khumalo