adminPetros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIFA have blamed lack of corporate and Government support for Zimbabwe’s banishment from the 2018 World Cup, claiming all their efforts to raise the $81 000 they owe to former Warriors coach Valinhos over the last four months had been in vain.
Zimbabwe are the only African country to miss out on the qualification race for the World Cup after FIFA booted the Warriors out in March following ZIFA’s failure to settle the debt they owe Brazilian Valinhos.
It is the first time since Independence that the Warriors will not make any attempt to qualify for the global soccer showpiece and despite assurances by ZIFA that they had been working to have the ban overturned by paying Valinhos through his Brazilian lawyers, the association failed to meet the deadline set by FIFA in order to be entered into the preliminary round draw.
FIFA will conduct the preliminary round draw for the World Cup in St. Petersburg in Russia tomorrow and of the 54 African countries affiliated to the world soccer governing body, only Zimbabwe will be the missing link.
ZIFA Communications manager Xolisani said they reached a dead end in their efforts to raise the money they owe to Valinhos, but insisted the association had been eager to have the Warriors take part in the race for places at the global soccer showcase in Russia.
“We have been trying to run around and pay the debt, but our efforts are being scuppered by the fact that we do not have money. The Government traditionally should have been the benefactor, but they indicated that they are constrained.
“All the companies we wrote to said they are also struggling; some are even retrenching . . . it is not like we did not want Zimbabwe to participate. It was our wish and that is why we entered for participation and sent letters of appeal to FIFA to give us time ,’’ Gwesela said.
Gwesela said it was regrettable that ZIFA and the country had learnt the hard way, with a fine generation of players having to watch in dismay as an administrative boob and not opponents on the field knocked them out of the World Cup.
The Warriors now having to wait for the 2022 edition in Qatar.
“Our message is that the responsibility to fund national teams and their obligations is not ZIFA’s alone; we are only there to administer the game.
“There are numerous examples of countries that have excelled in football because of government support; you talk of countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Zamia and Gabon, who have all done well because their national teams are supported and supported very well by their governments.
“Maybe it is also a lesson for our Ministry of Sport to have clear polices on how national teams can be funded because at the moment that is not happening. While we understand Government’s position, we still feel that everyone should pull in one direction and help,’’ said Gwesela.
Although Gwesela tried to defend his association, what he spoke of appears to be a long term plan.
It is the poor manner in which they handled the Valinhos saga, for which ZIFA should take the blame, especially their decision to ignore the debt until it ballooned from $60 000 to $81 000.
The association has rightly been criticised for misplaced priorities in trying to wish away the Valinhos debt, while devoting huge financial resources to other projects whose significance does not match the importance of the World Cup.
That the ZIFA leadership failed to make a staggered payment plan with Valinhos’ legal representatives and gradually pay off the Brazilian in the last five years is an indictment on their football management qualities.
Online Reporter