Zimpapers Logo

HONOURING HIS PROMISE . . . Businessman Philip Chiyangwa speaks in Harare yesterday after donating $10 000 to the Warriors, bringing his donation to the team for their CHAN qualifier against Lesotho, to $20 000

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter—
ZIFA presidential candidate Philip Chiyangwa yesterday dismissed critics who are questioning his credentials to become the leader of domestic football, saying his donations to the Warriors are not a vote-buying gimmick. The Harare businessman was speaking at his offices yesterday where he presented $10 000 to the Warriors, who qualified for the 2016 CHAN finals after beating Lesotho over the weekend.

Related stories

• Chiyangwa makes move
• ‘I’m the game changer’
• Pasuwa hails donation

He chipped in with a cash donation of $10 000 before the team’s departure to Maseru after the players boycotted training demanding their winning bonuses and outstanding allowances. He then promised the Warriors a further $10 000 should they succeed in Lesotho while he also paid their departure taxes just before they left Bulawayo for Lesotho.

Yesterday, Chiyangwa presented the money to the team’s coach, Callisto Pasuwa, his assistant Saul Chaminuka and team manager Richard Tswatswa. Also in attendance was ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze. Chiyangwa, who says he was involved at Chinhoyi United in Division Two and owned a Division Three club — Old Citrus Farm Football Club — said the fact that he has been working with small teams, and involved at grassroots level, does not make him a less-qualified candidate.

“This is on record, but it’s not something people want to look at because it was those small clubs, but it’s no difference when it’s qualification, even if you were at Lulu Rovers while we were in Chinhoyi, or at Chegutu Pirates, it’s still qualification legally,” said Chiyangwa. “People expected me to be saying no I was at CAPS or I was at Dynamos or I was at Highlanders, no I was there in the grassroots, that’s where I am coming from.”

Chiyangwa said the donation he made to the Warriors will go a long way in boosting the team’s morale before adding that there was need for continuity, in terms of the team’s preparations, ahead of the CHAN finals in Rwanda next year. “I do believe that it will certainly boost our players’ morale, it will make team management easier, particularly in these times where funding (from) ZIFA has been a problem,” said Chiyangwa.

“But I think it will be a thing of the past if I am elected and I look forward to not having you guys phoning people around looking for funding. “The national team, I am sure the Minister (Makhosini Hlongwane) is also positive about that, and my wish is if I am elected I will be able to source enough support, funding-wise, and give the team the necessary financial, morale and material support.

“I also think they should not stop training between the victory we have had in Lesotho to the next matches that are to take place because once they don’t train we have a problem. “It’s better for us to look for money in order to keep them in camp and ensure victory in Rwanda.” Asked about the timing of his donation, Chiyangwa said he was just fulfilling a promise he made to the team before they went to Lesotho and it had nothing to do with him vying for the ZIFA presidency.

“What happened first is I made a pledge prior to this and you know I am only a candidate from yesterday (Monday) because legally, only when you have submitted your form are you a candidate,” said Chiyangwa. “Prior to that anything that might have happened it’s as good as (Walter) Magaya giving money to the team. “It’s a gesture because I have it (money) so giving it way is not a problem. It’s a donation, it’s not a loan.

“And I will continue supporting activities I believe promote our national image and more so boost morale of both the Mighty Warriors and Warriors. “I haven’t even as yet met the Mighty Warriors, you will hear my announcement soon regarding the Mighty Warriors. I will be giving them something because right now they will hate me, so I would rather cross over and do something.

“We will probably do that by Friday.” Pasuwa said they were grateful to Chiyangwa and appealed to other well-wishers to come on board and assist the Warriors as he noted that there were still some outstanding payments to the team. “Once again I would like to thank Dr Chiyangwa for giving us this $10 000 as part of our allowances. Like he said it’s not to say we are campaigning for Dr Chiyangwa to be ZIFA president.

“We had a problem in Bulawayo because of allowances and as coaches we had to run around and we phoned asking for help to make our job easier. “It’s not good to coach a hungry player. Sometimes it affects their concentration at training and the problem reached a point where some of the guys were taking their bags going home and then I had to drive, to come to Harare to talk to Dr Chiyangwa.

“Remember some of these guys have played in the Under-23s, in the Olympic Games qualifiers, and they had not been paid, even the likes of Danny Phiri and (Hardlife) Zvirekwi, who played in CHAN, they were never paid. “So there was a problem and we had to talk to him and he assisted us with allowances.

“If there are some who want to help, we still need help, we still have outstanding allowances. As you know ZIFA at the moment they have got nothing to give the boys so those who want to help, they can come on board so that we can pay the players.”