Prophet Magaya bails out Zimbabwe Warriors

PROPHET Walter Magaya provided a last-minute rescue package for the Warriors last night, paying the players and technical staff the allowances and match fees they were demanding, and ensuring that the senior national team fulfils the 2017 Nations Cup tie against Malawi in Blantyre tomorrow.

The Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader, a football-mad prophet who also bankrolled the trip by the Warriors to the COSAFA Cup last month by unveiling more than $50 000 for the adventure, was forced to intervene and resolve another crisis after a dramatic day for the senior national team.

The Warriors pulled out of their trip to Malawi yesterday, with the players refusing to leave their team hotel and travel to the Harare International Airport to catch their flight, as they demanded payment for their allowances and match fees.

Magaya talked to the players and their coaches and told them that he would meet the financial burden that had led them to boycott the trip to Malawi earlier in the day.

"When we heard that the team had failed to travel, I felt that I had a responsibility to help and I talked to the coach and the captain and they were very, very cooperative and clearly willing to go to Malawi and fly our national flag high," Magaya said.

Magaya said he was concerned that arrangements were being made for the Warriors to travel to Malawi by road early this morning.

"Talking to the captain and the coach, there are fears that fatigue could affect them, if they go by road and we were looking at the possibility of them flying to South Africa and then connecting to Malawi so that they arrive at about 1pm tomorrow (today)," said Magaya.