Sports / Soccer
Zifa promises gallant Warriors handsome reward
04 Feb 2014 at 09:30hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's national football team, the Warriors will be handsomely rewarded for their heroic showing, albeit in a losing cause, at the just ended Orange African Nations Championship (Chan).
The Warriors were expected to arrive in Harare Monday night to a heroes' welcome, despite finishing fourth in the third edition of the continental football showcase.
Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela told The Zimbabwe Mail that the Warriors would be generously rewarded for making history by not only qualifying for the knock-out stages of a continental tournament for the first time ever, but also reaching the last four.
"After more than three decades, the current national team has broken the records and we are proud of them as national association," said Gwesela.
"They will be rewarded with a huge chunk of the prize money, which will be presented to the national team once Caf has deposited the money into our account.
"They deserve to be rewarded as they have done the nation proud after 34 years of searching."
Gwesela's revelations come in the wake of unfortunate developments in South Africa which saw the Warriors nearly boycotting the third and fourth place playoff match against Nigeria after a dispute over bonuses.
The players only withdrew their boycott threat after a series of meetings with team management and the Zifa communications manager has now stated that the issues that emerged in South Africa would be sorted out in due course.
"Everything is now under control. We are going to pay whatever we owe them and that money (allowances and match appearances fees) will not be part of the prize money which they have to share as bonuses for doing the nation proud," said Gwesela.
The Zifa communications manager appealed to the corporate world to come on board and support the Warriors cause as the team bids to compete at the highest level of international football.
"After what we witnessed during the tournament where our national team gave it everything, corporates should now have confidence in the team and join hands to support the team," he said.
"The success of the Warriors at Chan heralded a new era which now calls for a cordial relationship between the mother body and stakeholders to achieve more in the near future."
Gwesela indicated that a welcome party is set to be held today for the Warriors at a local lodge.
"I can confirm that a welcome party is going to be held tomorrow (today) at a Harare lodge, though plans were that we host them when they arrive. But we felt they needed time to rest and the day will be filled with a host of programmes as corporates have registered interest in welcoming their heroes," said Gwesela.
The Warriors were expected to arrive in Harare Monday night to a heroes' welcome, despite finishing fourth in the third edition of the continental football showcase.
Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela told The Zimbabwe Mail that the Warriors would be generously rewarded for making history by not only qualifying for the knock-out stages of a continental tournament for the first time ever, but also reaching the last four.
"After more than three decades, the current national team has broken the records and we are proud of them as national association," said Gwesela.
"They will be rewarded with a huge chunk of the prize money, which will be presented to the national team once Caf has deposited the money into our account.
"They deserve to be rewarded as they have done the nation proud after 34 years of searching."
Gwesela's revelations come in the wake of unfortunate developments in South Africa which saw the Warriors nearly boycotting the third and fourth place playoff match against Nigeria after a dispute over bonuses.
The players only withdrew their boycott threat after a series of meetings with team management and the Zifa communications manager has now stated that the issues that emerged in South Africa would be sorted out in due course.
"Everything is now under control. We are going to pay whatever we owe them and that money (allowances and match appearances fees) will not be part of the prize money which they have to share as bonuses for doing the nation proud," said Gwesela.
The Zifa communications manager appealed to the corporate world to come on board and support the Warriors cause as the team bids to compete at the highest level of international football.
"After what we witnessed during the tournament where our national team gave it everything, corporates should now have confidence in the team and join hands to support the team," he said.
"The success of the Warriors at Chan heralded a new era which now calls for a cordial relationship between the mother body and stakeholders to achieve more in the near future."
Gwesela indicated that a welcome party is set to be held today for the Warriors at a local lodge.
"I can confirm that a welcome party is going to be held tomorrow (today) at a Harare lodge, though plans were that we host them when they arrive. But we felt they needed time to rest and the day will be filled with a host of programmes as corporates have registered interest in welcoming their heroes," said Gwesela.
Source - zimmail
