News / National
Warriors will share Chan spoils, says Chiyangwa
10 Jan 2016 at 05:55hrs | Views
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has revealed that the Warriors will share the $100 000 that will come from the Confederation of African Football for the national team's qualification into this year's African Nations Championships.
The Warriors leave for the finals on Saturday.
In a wide ranging interview last week, Chiyangwa, who has had a hectic 30 days in office since taking over from Cuthbert Dube, also disclosed that Zifa will also not touch any prize money that the Warriors may accumulate during the tournament.
The Zifa president hinted on his inclination towards South Africa's Fifa presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale, who goes into the race with four other contestants in an election to replace Sepp Blatter on February 26.
"The biggest prize at Chan is $750 000, the whole amount will go into the players' pockets. All they need to do is win the tournament, period.
"Already, they are guaranteed $100 000 and that money is for the players, it is not for settling Zifa's historical problems.
"Our task as Zifa is to take the team to Chan and take good care of them. If they play well and win something, then the team will share all the proceeds," said Chiyangwa.
According to the prize money breakdown released by Caf, Zifa is guaranteed of $100 000 should the Warriors finish last in their group.
The Warriors, who will play Zambia, Uganda and Mali in Group D; will get $125 000 if they finish third in that group while they will get $50 000 more should they reach the quarter-finals.
The losing semi finalists will get $250 000 each while the runners-up will net $400 000.
Caf will disburse the funds within a month after the final match which is set for February 7.
However, Chiyangwa has been holding meetings with Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo to determine the winning bonuses but could not divulge other incentives for the Warriors.
"As for the other incentives, we cannot announce that just as yet.
"We are working on it with our financiers, remember the Government is also involved, so an announcement will be made in due course.
"It should be known that we did not get into football to benefit financially.
"It is the players who sweat on the field, they attract thousands of fans to the stadia and as such, they deserve more. Unoda kukwana ipapo ndiwe ani, ane nzara hatimude kubhora," said Chiyangwa.
The flamboyant business tycoon expects the Warriors to go all the way and win the Chan trophy, two years after bowing out at the semi final stage in South Africa.
"We have to win the trophy and that is why we are putting all stops to make sure everything is okay.
"We want the players to be well taken care of in Rwanda until they get onto the pitch.
"Just because I am the biggest man in local football, I have to dream bigger. Come on, the buck stops with me, I am the main game in the whole game here," he said.
The outspoken mogul, whose tenure has so far been characterised by both vibrancy and controversy, also took time to reflect on his 30 days in office.
Chiyangwa shocked the football fraternity when he announced that he was going on leave shortly after his election into office on December 5, 2015.
He has stirred controversy with his insistence that Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri is no longer eligible to sit on the Zifa board.
Chiyangwa's board resolved last Friday that there be elections at PSL next month.
This is despite the fact that the top flight body wrote to ZIFA in December confirming its support for the embattled Phiri.
The ill-advised decision to fire Kallisto Pasuwa on December 17, was a bungled move that Chiyangwa regretted and reversed 48 hours later following a public outcry.
"It has been a hectic month indeed but I partook of this journey well aware of the challenges I would face.
"The question of financing our football is critical and that is my main thrust.
"Going on leave soon after winning the elections was basically to free myself to chase after those who could help us.
"There is need for more money to fund the progress of football.
"The Warriors, Young Warriors and the Mighty Warriors who are going to the Olympics all want financial support.
"I am already engaging big financiers, I will make it public when we reach an agreement and that should be very soon," he said.
Although it is still early days, Chiyangwa's hands-on approach and stabilising effect has left most of his pre-election critics wondering if he might be the man who can steer Zifa out of the woods.
"We have to rebuild our football and to get there we need international links just as much as we want more funding.
"We need to get our players to play in competitive European leagues, we need regional support and that is why I was in South Africa last December.
"I met the South African Football Association (Safa) leaders, it was a fruitful engagement.
"Right now, they (Safa) have a candidate contesting for the Fifa presidency, so they can't ignore anybody because they risk being ignored too.
"We are holding a vote that we can give to Tokyo (Sexwale), but around that vote there should be a long term relationship, one that benefits both parties.
"Zimbabwe is yet to finalise who it will vote for.
" All the candidates have to do more in terms of marketing themselves but I am not afraid to say I have an inclination towards Sexwale," said Chiyangwa.
The Warriors leave for the finals on Saturday.
In a wide ranging interview last week, Chiyangwa, who has had a hectic 30 days in office since taking over from Cuthbert Dube, also disclosed that Zifa will also not touch any prize money that the Warriors may accumulate during the tournament.
The Zifa president hinted on his inclination towards South Africa's Fifa presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale, who goes into the race with four other contestants in an election to replace Sepp Blatter on February 26.
"The biggest prize at Chan is $750 000, the whole amount will go into the players' pockets. All they need to do is win the tournament, period.
"Already, they are guaranteed $100 000 and that money is for the players, it is not for settling Zifa's historical problems.
"Our task as Zifa is to take the team to Chan and take good care of them. If they play well and win something, then the team will share all the proceeds," said Chiyangwa.
According to the prize money breakdown released by Caf, Zifa is guaranteed of $100 000 should the Warriors finish last in their group.
The Warriors, who will play Zambia, Uganda and Mali in Group D; will get $125 000 if they finish third in that group while they will get $50 000 more should they reach the quarter-finals.
The losing semi finalists will get $250 000 each while the runners-up will net $400 000.
Caf will disburse the funds within a month after the final match which is set for February 7.
However, Chiyangwa has been holding meetings with Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo to determine the winning bonuses but could not divulge other incentives for the Warriors.
"As for the other incentives, we cannot announce that just as yet.
"We are working on it with our financiers, remember the Government is also involved, so an announcement will be made in due course.
"It should be known that we did not get into football to benefit financially.
"It is the players who sweat on the field, they attract thousands of fans to the stadia and as such, they deserve more. Unoda kukwana ipapo ndiwe ani, ane nzara hatimude kubhora," said Chiyangwa.
The flamboyant business tycoon expects the Warriors to go all the way and win the Chan trophy, two years after bowing out at the semi final stage in South Africa.
"We have to win the trophy and that is why we are putting all stops to make sure everything is okay.
"We want the players to be well taken care of in Rwanda until they get onto the pitch.
"Just because I am the biggest man in local football, I have to dream bigger. Come on, the buck stops with me, I am the main game in the whole game here," he said.
The outspoken mogul, whose tenure has so far been characterised by both vibrancy and controversy, also took time to reflect on his 30 days in office.
Chiyangwa shocked the football fraternity when he announced that he was going on leave shortly after his election into office on December 5, 2015.
He has stirred controversy with his insistence that Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri is no longer eligible to sit on the Zifa board.
Chiyangwa's board resolved last Friday that there be elections at PSL next month.
This is despite the fact that the top flight body wrote to ZIFA in December confirming its support for the embattled Phiri.
The ill-advised decision to fire Kallisto Pasuwa on December 17, was a bungled move that Chiyangwa regretted and reversed 48 hours later following a public outcry.
"It has been a hectic month indeed but I partook of this journey well aware of the challenges I would face.
"The question of financing our football is critical and that is my main thrust.
"Going on leave soon after winning the elections was basically to free myself to chase after those who could help us.
"There is need for more money to fund the progress of football.
"The Warriors, Young Warriors and the Mighty Warriors who are going to the Olympics all want financial support.
"I am already engaging big financiers, I will make it public when we reach an agreement and that should be very soon," he said.
Although it is still early days, Chiyangwa's hands-on approach and stabilising effect has left most of his pre-election critics wondering if he might be the man who can steer Zifa out of the woods.
"We have to rebuild our football and to get there we need international links just as much as we want more funding.
"We need to get our players to play in competitive European leagues, we need regional support and that is why I was in South Africa last December.
"I met the South African Football Association (Safa) leaders, it was a fruitful engagement.
"Right now, they (Safa) have a candidate contesting for the Fifa presidency, so they can't ignore anybody because they risk being ignored too.
"We are holding a vote that we can give to Tokyo (Sexwale), but around that vote there should be a long term relationship, one that benefits both parties.
"Zimbabwe is yet to finalise who it will vote for.
" All the candidates have to do more in terms of marketing themselves but I am not afraid to say I have an inclination towards Sexwale," said Chiyangwa.
Source - sundaymail
