SRC lead bid to charter flight MEN ON A MISSION . . . A ZIFA delegation (from left), chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze and board members Fungai Chihuri and John Phiri (right) watch the Premiership match between FC Platinum and Buffaloes at Mandava on Saturday. ZIFA have been thanking Mimosa Mining Company for helping them out in their adventures this year and it could not be established last night whether this was a similar mission where the officials went with a begging bowl for the Warriors’ trip to the Comoros
MEN ON A MISSION . . . A ZIFA delegation (from left), chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze and board members Fungai Chihuri and John Phiri (right) watch the Premiership match between FC Platinum and Buffaloes at Mandava on Saturday. ZIFA have been thanking Mimosa Mining Company for helping them out in their adventures this year and it could not be established last night whether this was a similar mission where the officials went with a begging bowl for the Warriors’ trip to the Comoros

MEN ON A MISSION . . . A ZIFA delegation (from left), chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze and board members Fungai Chihuri and John Phiri (right) watch the Premiership match between FC Platinum and Buffaloes at Mandava on Saturday. ZIFA have been thanking Mimosa Mining Company for helping them out in their adventures this year and it could not be established last night whether this was a similar mission where the officials went with a begging bowl for the Warriors’ trip to the Comoros

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
THE Sports Commission have taken a leading role in trying to assist ZIFA to secure a charter flight that will take the Warriors to Comoros for their African Nations Championships qualifier against the Indian Ocean islanders on Saturday.

Broke ZIFA turned to the government for assistance to ensure the Warriors fulfil the preliminary round fixture and edge one step closer to a possible fourth successive CHAN finals appearance.

The Warriors took a 2-0 first leg cushion at Rufaro a fortnight ago through a goal each by Hwange striker Evans Rusike and Marshal Mudehwe of FC Platinum.

Should they prevail over Comoros they will face the winner between Lesotho and Botswana in the final qualifier to determine who proceeds to the CHAN finals in Rwanda in January next year.

But there have been genuine fears that the Warriors may fail to fulfil that important fixture after it emerged that the complicated flight arrangements to Comoros meant that ZIFA’s only option was to charter a flight in order for the team to arrive in time for Saturday’s match.

With Air Zimbabwe reportedly demanding guarantees given ZIFA’s precarious financial position, the association last week sent an SOS to government through the Sports Commission and that triggered a series of meetings that have been taking place between all the parties including Air Zimbabwe.

Sports Commission director-general Charles Nhemachena yesterday revealed that they had upped efforts to secure the charter flight and also appealed to individuals and companies to support the Warriors’ cause by taking up seats on the plane at a subsidized cost.

“We received a request from ZIFA last week for assistance with getting the Warriors to Comoros Islands.

“The Sport and Recreation Commission, in conjunction with the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture is engaged in fund-raising efforts to facilitate the Warriors’ preparations for their CHAN qualifiers match against the Comoros as well as their travel to that country.

“The match is scheduled for Saturday, 4th July 2015.

“As part of these efforts, a charter is being organised to fly the team to the Comoros and back at an estimated cost of $83 000. The charter will obviate inconvenient travel arrangements which include approximately 12 hours to get to the Comoros and the possibility of the team travelling in batches and on different dates.

“The duration of the charter flight is about 3-4 hours. While the finer details of the travel itinerary are being worked out, the plan is for the team to arrive in the Comoros early on Saturday morning,’’ Nhemachena said.

The Sports Commission boss said they were looking at securing the Boeing 737, which would leave at least 70 seats available for sale to supporters wishing to travel to tour the Indian Ocean islands and also back the Warriors.

“We call upon our soccer loving citizens and residents to support our resurgent Warriors by taking up 70 seats on the flight at a heavily subsidised cost of $450,” said Nhemachena.

“An air ticket on the scheduled flight costs no less than US$1 900. An additional US$50 will be required to cover visa fees while accommodation and match entry fees are still to be confirmed.

“Members of the travelling party should ensure that they have valid yellow fever vaccination certificates.

“For companies and other corporate bodies, this is an opportunity to extend an invaluable hospitality facility to your partners as well as for rewarding and motivating your employees by sponsoring them to go and watch the Warriors do national duty.

“The SRC also invites potential sponsors to consider supporting the Warriors through the funding of camping expenses, performance incentives, daily allowances and airfares among other requirements. Donations in kind will also be appreciated. We avail ourselves to discuss the opportunities presented by this tour at the sponsors’ convenience’’.

Nhemachena also insisted that there would be transparency in the manner the funds raised for the trip would be administered by the Commission.

“Payments should be made through the Sports and Recreation Commission whose account details are as follows:

“Bank and Branch — CBZ Sapphire House

“Account Number — 02420577900042

“Cash payments can also be made at the Finance Office, SRC Head Office, National Sports Stadium — access through Gate 5.

“All sponsorships and donations will be acknowledged and accounted for in a transparent manner. For further details, please contact the following persons’’.

Nhemachena once again called on the ZIFA leadership to set aside their boardroom fissures and focus on helping the Warriors achieve their goals.

“There is a lot of potential in this Warriors team and we wouldn’t want the players to be distracted by any off-field problems.

“For now we are not talking about boardroom squabbles, we should put all differences aside and unite for the sake of this team,’’ said Nhemachena.

The Commission has also set up a committee that is probing the problems rocking the ZIFA boat.

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