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Petros Kausiyo and Eddie Chikamhi—
CASH-strapped ZIFA have once again sent out an SOS to the Government, corporate world and individual sponsors to bail them out as they seek to raise $150 000 to ensure the Warriors have a successful fourth African Nations Championships soccer tournament in Rwanda next month. ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said yesterday that the association was eager to ensure the Warriors better their fourth-place finish at the last CHAN tournament in South Africa by reaching the final or winning the trophy.

But for that to happen, the Warriors would need to be adequately prepared for the competition in which they have been drawn against regional rivals Zambia, Mali and Uganda in Group D. Mashingaidze said the $150 000 they had budgeted for and are looking to mobilise would cater for the players’ allowances at home and in Rwanda, their accommodation, food and transport while in camp, airfares as well as bonuses.

The ZIFA chief executive said the association could not sustain the requirements of the Warriors and other national teams such as the Mighty Warriors who will also need to prepare for both Olympic Games and the African Women’s Championships in which they will face Tanzania and Zambia next year.

“National teams are a national responsibility and all stakeholders need to pool resources and not to leave it all to a poor federation. In terms of potential, one cannot doubt that we have it hence we have been to every CHAN tournament using homegrown talent.

“The 2017 AFCON chances are also bright and there are chances that our Warriors will grind positive results and qualify so let us resource them. “The $150 000 that we need is for camping, allowances, airfares, lodgings in Zimbabwe, upkeep of the players in Rwanda and the team should take part without hassles so that they can achieve their goals.

“So we are appealing to the corporate world and to Government and all individual sponsors that after CHAN in February, the AFCON campaign resumes in March with a trip to face Guinea which is likely to be played in Morocco.

“But the $150 000 that we need is for the CHAN competition only,’’ Mashingaidze said. The ZIFA chief executive sent his begging bowl on the day that the Warriors preparations got off to a wobbly start yesterday after the team failed to secure a training ground for their afternoon workout, amid indications too that there was no money to pay for the facility.

The senior team had their first training in the gym in the morning, but the old problems that have often haunted them resurfaced in the afternoon when coach Callisto Pasuwa and his men were forced to abandon ball work and concentrate more on the physical exercises due to the unavailability of a proper field.

Pasuwa, who had prepared a six-week programme ahead of the regional tournament to be held next month in Rwanda, yesterday said his charges are behind schedule. He said the Warriors were a week behind after starting camp late. He is now hoping to maximise on the remaining time to get the best out of his charges. However, the first day was not what he had hoped it would turn out to be.

Pasuwa said the Warriors need to prepare well ahead of the tournament that runs from January 16 to February 7, 2016. “The first day was okay, but I think in the afternoon we had wanted a good field which we failed to get, maybe because there was communication breakdown.

“We have been in this situation before. Remember this is not a one game thing, it’s a tournament where we play many games. “We need to prepare well hence the reason why I had prepared a six-week training programme. “We wanted to have everything in place, but we have one week subtracted already. So we are trying to manage it and balance so that we can come up with good preparations.

“We need as much to have everything in place. As you can see, our programme is very hectic. Unfortunately this afternoon (yesterday) we had a problem with the training ground. We have received assurances from ZIFA. They said they are going to sort it out by tomorrow (today),” said Pasuwa.

Pasuwa has called 32 players for training camp and yesterday most of the players had heeded the call. Among the early birds were Hardlife Zvirekwi, Stephen Makatuka, Ronald Chitiyo, Marshall Mudehwe, Tatenda Mukuruva, Hillary Bakacheza, Rodrick Mutuma and Brian Muzondiwa.

The Warriors coach was disappointed that Dynamos vice captain Ocean Mushure had not turned up by yesterday and had kept the coach guessing as he did not pick his cellphone. “But of the 32 guys that we called in camp we had 21. Most of the guys turned up except probably for Ocean Mushure. I don’t know what might have held him up.

“We tried to call his number, but he wasn’t answering his phone, but like I said, I have called 32 players and we will let those who want to play to go ahead and play,” said Pasuwa. The Warriors are expected to continue with their schedule today by going to the gym early in the morning and then follow up with field exercises mid-morning. The team will train again in the afternoon and have some stretches early evening.

Pasuwa was particularly concerned about some players whom he suspects could be carrying knocks, but are now being assessed by the medical team. The Warriors are expected to be joined later in the day by the 10 players from Chicken Inn and Highlanders who played in the NetOne Easycall Cup final on Sunday.

“We asked them to rest today (yesterday) and by tomorrow (today) we should expect them to arrive. Again we will need to see if they are all free from injuries. “And speaking of match fitness, I don’t think we have a big problem. “Most of these guys last played two weeks ago and I think in terms of conditioning they are still there.

“Then we have others who played on Sunday and we will have to balance. “Remember we have guys like Danny Phiri who played most of the national team games and almost all the games for Chicken Inn. I think we need to manage him so that by the time we go to CHAN he will be in good condition for the games,” said Pasuwa.