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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
YOUNG Warriors’ players were yesterday forced to dig into their pockets to buy lunch for themselves while there was still no indication where their supper was going to come from by 6PM, in yet another dark and sad chapter in Zimbabwean football.

Chronicle Sport is reliably informed that the players were also locked out of their rooms when they returned from a morning training session on Tuesday as management at a Greendale lodge in Harare where they are staying demanded payment from the cash-strapped Zifa.

The national Under-23 squad is in camp preparing for the second leg of the Caf Championships qualifiers against South Africa in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday evening.

The winner will join hosts Senegal and six other African countries at the championships in Dakar, Senegal, in December.

The championships will also serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games, with the top three nations at the tournament going to Brazil.

The boys went through yesterday morning’s training session under the guidance of assistant coach Nation Dube and goalkeepers’ coach Tembo Chuma, but did not train in the afternoon after being forced to look for their own food.

Head coach Callisto Pasuwa stayed away for a second day protesting ill-treatment and non-payment of what he is owed by Zifa.

Pasuwa walked out on the Young Warriors on Tuesday saying he was “fed up” with Zifa for ignoring his plight and treating him as an outcast.

Zifa spokesman Xolisani Gwesela yesterday said issues to do with the coach were being attended to and “I can confidently state that issue will be resolved amicably”.

Asked about their failure to provide lunch for the Young Warriors, Gwesela said Zifa had not been apprised of the situation, adding that the football governing body had been in constant touch with the squad.

“That information hasn’t reached us,” said Gwesela.

However, the players confirmed that they had to go to town to buy themselves lunch after finding nothing prepared for them upon returning from their morning training session.

“We had to fork out our own money to buy lunch. The situation has really been bad here and it’s like we’re in prison, yet we’re representing our country. Our coaches have been trying to motivate us to concentrate on the bigger job ahead and we just hope we’ll manage,” said a player, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

Assistant coach Dube refused to field Chronicle Sport’s inquiries.

Zifa’s financial headaches come against the backdrop of a $1,050,000 received from Fifa as part of the world football governing body’s Financial Assistance Programme this year.

Of that chunk, $360,000 was set aside for men’s competitions yet Zifa has failed to pay head coach Pasuwa as well as settle the $81,000 debt owed to former coach Valinhos.

Meanwhile, the Young Warriors’ technical team and captain have been invited to State House for a banquet being hosted by President Robert Mugabe for WBC welterweight king Charles Manyuchi this evening.

“They’re just part of the guests invited for the function,” said Benson Dube, principal director in the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Zimbabwe Squad:

Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo, Carlos Rusere (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard, Mcgini Sibanda (How Mine), Lawrence Mhlanga, Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe, Knox Mtizwa(Highlanders), John Takwara, Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Praise Tonha, Malvin Gaki (Triangle), Farai Madhananga (Flame Lily), Jimmy Konono (Whawha), Kuda Mahachi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thomas Chideu (Ajax Cape Town).