Zimbabwe out of Wafu

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S preparations for the Chan tournament have received a blow as they are no longer taking part in the West Africa Football Union tournament scheduled for Ghana next month. The Warriors, who were given a special invitation by the organisers last month, were expected to join seven countries from the West Africa bloc in this tournament as guest nation.

Zifa communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, yesterday confirmed that they have since dropped plans to travel to Accra for the tournament after considering various logistical challenges.

The Wafu Cup, which is reserved for players who are plying their trade in domestic leagues, will run from November 21 to 28 and features eight nations.

“It was a noble idea that we had wanted our team to take part in that tournament but we are no longer going because of a number of reasons.
“Since it is a tournament exclusively for those playing in the domestic leagues, we did not want to disturb our local Premiership which will be nearing its end when this tournament takes place.

“The PSL programme had so many breaks during the year and we also considered their deadline set at the end of November and the fact that it will be the same time when most of these clubs will be in great need of all their players.

“It is also not a secret that we have no resources to fly our team to that part of the continent for the week-long event considering the logistical challenges involved. So we notified the organisers of this tournament last week before they conducted their draw and we were excused,” said Gwesela.

The draw for the tournament took place in Accra on Friday.
Hosts Ghana are in Group A alongside Benin, Burkina Faso, and Sierra Leone while Group B features defending champions Togo, Niger, Gabon and Senegal.

This leaves the Zimbabwe national football team without a confirmed friendly international ahead of their participation at next year’s Chan.

The Warriors are hoping to hold a training camp in South Africa, if they get the funds, and Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze told reporters that they are also chasing possible dates with Gabon and Egypt as part of the preparations.

Meanwhile, the two-day Football Medical Emergency and Anti-Doping Workshop being conducted by Fifa medical emergency expert Ephraim Kramer opened at the Zifa Village yesterday. The workshop is being attended by doctors and physiotherapists from Premiership clubs.