Gorowa bails out team

gorowaRobson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
WARRIORS coach lan Gorowa last night used his personal funds to buy food to enable his players to have supper in yet another embarrassing chapter for beleaguered Zifa.
The former Zimbabwe international forward told The Herald last night he was forced to use his money to buy food for his players after owners of the lodge, where the team is staying,  advised him that they could not prepare supper because the association hasn’t paid them.

Zifa managed to secure the Warriors a house in Harare, to stay during their camp ahead of the CHAN finals, which Gorowa described as “nice and decent place.”

Apparently, Zifa struck a deal with the owners of the place that they would pay, as soon as funds became available, and the team would stay there on full board with the hosts taking care of accommodation, food and drinks.

Everything has been going according to plan until late  yesterday when the hosts dropped a bombshell that they had exhausted all their resources and, without getting any payment from Zifa, they could not afford to prepare supper for the Warriors.

Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze and communications manager Xolisani Gwesela could not be reached for comment last night despite repeated efforts to contact the pair.

The Warriors problems started in the morning when they had to delay their morning training – a gym session – because there was no bus to take them to the gymnasium in Avonlea until team manager Sharrif Mussa reportedly ran around to secure one and buy the diesel.
It got worse after their evening session when they returned to their lodge only to find that there would be no food.

Gorowa was then forced to use his personal funds to secure food for his team.
“It’s sad that a national team that is preparing for a major tournament can be told that there is no supper for them because the association hasn’t paid for the food yet,” Gorowa said.

“I never imagined that it could happen to any national football team in the world.
“Our hosts, who have treated us very well since we came into camp, told me that they have exhausted all their resources taking care of us since we got here.

“They said they have been promised that there will be some payment and have been waiting for the money, while using their funds for our upkeep,  but so far nothing has come and they couldn’t do any more.

“I had no choice, really, but to buy the boys some food for their supper. I’m not pointing a finger at anyone but l feel it’s important that we all look at ourselves in the mirror.

“This is our national football team and we have to give it a little bit of respect and also help it, with the basics,  so that it can be successful.
“We must ask ourselves some tough questions because this is as bad as it can get for a national team, being told that there is no food for you guys when you are in camp.”

Gorowa said he couldn’t afford to let his players sleep on an empty stomach when they were doing fitness drills that required them to make up for what they lose in those tough exercises.

“We are doing some fitness drills and it’s important that the boys also have the right food during these exercises,” said Gorowa.
“My priority is to try and ensure that the team prepares as well as is possible but we aren’t going to do that if we keep getting these distractions.

“My other option would have been to keep quiet and not bring this into the open but l feel that’s wrong because we cannot keep hiding our problems.

“It’s important that the nation knows the challenges that we are facing because this is a national project not something for an individual and we should all contribute to take care of our national team.”

Initially Gorowa wanted the Warriors to camp in South Africa for 20 days this month.
The coach had secured discounted rates for accommodation for that period and also engaged fitness specialists, which he was going to pay for from his pocket, and a psychologist.

Zifa, however, said they could not bankroll that camp in South Africa because of their depressed financial position.
The camp is now being held locally.

“My plan was to get the boys to spend about a month in South Africa because l didn’t want them to be distracted by issues that come up at home,” said Gorowa.

“But Zifa said they had no money to pay for that camp and l understood that and said okay let us do what is possible and then, when we are at home, we run into problems like what happened this evening.

“We all have to do something to help our team because everyone wants it to be successful and we all are happy when that success comes.”
Gorowa single-handedly secured the Umbro kit that the Warriors will be using during the CHAN finals in South Africa.

The kit was presented at a function in Harare graced by Zifa president Cuthbert Dube and his chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze.
“You know the issue of replicas and that we have to sell a certain amount of replicas as part of the sponsorship,” said Gorowa.

“We don’t have the money right now to guarantee that but l have a special relationship with the Umbro guys, we come a long way, and l explained to them our situation and they agreed based on the trust that we have established.

“Even their representative agreed to come here and be part of the occasion and they said we want to ensure that the Warriors will be the best dressed team at CHAN.

“I have done my best but others have to also play their part, “ said Gorowa.
The Warriors are expected to remain in camp until January 6 when they leave for Johannesburg.

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