MORALE BOOST: Govt steps in with Warriors hefty perks Makhosini Hlongwane
Makhosini Hlongwane

Makhosini Hlongwane

Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
THE Government yesterday led the way in rallying the Warriors ahead of their African Cup of Nations campaign with the State mobilising resources to lay out a $1 million package for the senior team’s tour of duty in Gabon.

The package comes as Zifa and the Warriors had clashed over a number of issues related to the players outstanding bonuses, accommodation for their training camp and other logistics that are key to ensuring Callisto Pasuwa and his men are adequately prepared for the continental soccer showcase which starts in Libreville on January 14.

Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane could not be drawn into giving finer details about the government rescue package but revealed that Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa had approached him on Tuesday for support.

This came as the impasse, highlighted in the media, seemed to spiral out of control with the players staying at a city hotel while their coach and his technical crew were housed at the Zifa Village.

The coach and his players were only meeting at training venues.

But all that is to be cleared today as mobile network services provider Netone have also chipped in to ensure normalcy returns to the Warriors camp by assuring Zifa and the squad that their $250 000 package had not yet been exhausted.

Part of the Netone package was used to fly the side that travelled to Abidjan for a Boxing Day friendly match against Cote d’Ivoire.

But is the manner in which government has led from the front that deserves to be applauded by the entire nation.

Government is also understood to be planning a send off ceremony for the Warriors tomorrow.

Hlongwane said government was stepping in following consultations with the other departments to help raise the resources for the team.

The Ministry, which receives around US$2.5m annually from treasury against a budget in excess of U$36m to service around 60 sport codes, had to turn to the higher offices for consultations since they clearly did not have the capacity.

Hlongwane said they took up the matter with the Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa who then assisted in facilitating the mobilisation of the resources from various Government departments.

According to sources, the meetings between the Minister and the Acting President resolved that there was need “to assist the Warriors’ campaign with a stout resource envelope.”

It is the government’s view that the package will see the Warriors’ complete their campaign without glitches.

Although Hlongwane could not let much out of the bag, the Minister paid tribute to Acting President Mnangagwa for his assistance in bailing out the Warriors.

“Yes what I can confirm is that we were indeed approached by Zifa on Tuesday afternoon. We immediately triggered our internal consultation processes and it is true that my consultations with the Acting President assisted in the facilitation of resource provision to the disposal of the Warriors which should see the Afcon campaign get to its logical conclusion, hopefully without a glitch.

“I can tell you the Acting President was very helpful for us to get to this conclusion,” said Hlongwane.

Zimbabwe are in Group B which features some of the continent’s big names Senegal, Algeria and Tunisia.

The Warriors, who are expected to leave Cameroon on Sunday for the final leg of the preparations, are also set to be given a befitting send-off tomorrow. Hlongwane said Government will hold a farewell dinner for the players with dignitaries expected to deliver messages of goodwill.

“We are going to have a send-off dinner for the Warriors on Friday evening which will be headlined by very high profile people within Government,” said Hlongwane.

The Minister said the Warriors need support from all Zimbabweans since they will be in Gabon for a national cause.

Despite the team conducting their training sessions, their camp had been saddled by financial challenges.

Zifa yesterday also had another relief after their all-weather friend NetOne chipped in and pledged to take over the Warriors accommodation expenses from today.

Netone unveiled a US$250 000 package to assist with the campaign. The mobile network operator’s officials led by acting chief operations officer Clever Isaya met with Chiyangwa yesterday after the parties attended the Warriors afternoon training at the National Sports Stadium.

Chiyangwa emerged from that meeting to assure the Warriors that they would be checked into a hotel today together with their technical crew.

Chiyangwa also assured the players that “things were back on track’’.

Netone have been insisting that “This (the package) is for the nation and the sponsor is ready to assist for the cause of the squad.”

There could have been disaster on Monday evening when the players threatened to walk out but the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe averted the crisis when they chipped in with an alternative arrangement which was acceptable to the players.

The Union temporarily booked them at Holiday Inn until today as negotiations continued.

Meanwhile Pasuwa and his players will today be in good space as they look to focus their energies on lifting the Zimbabwe flag high in Gabon.
Pasuwa yesterday postponed the announcement of his travelling squad of 23 men to today.

The Warriors gaffer will have to drop three players from the 26 players remaining in camp.

He has to drop one goalkeeper and two infield players.

ZPC Kariba’s Takabva Mawaya is likely to be the unlucky one in a line-up that also includes first choice Tatenda Mukuruva, Donovan Benard and Young Warriors goalminder Nelson Chadya.

The other local Premiership players Marshall Mudehwe, Edwin Madhananga, Teenage Hadebe and Lawrence Mhlanga will have to keep their fingers crossed as the coach has to make a decision today.

Defenders could be safe since the team needs more strength in the department. Pasuwa may have to look at the strengths of each player and their ability to play different roles in deciding on his final 23.

Using versatile players will give the coach more options in cases of suspensions and injuries.

The Warriors will be without Netherlands-based midfielder Nakamba for the opening Group B game against Algeria as he will be serving a one-match suspension for having picked two yellow cards during the qualification campaign.

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