Mighty Warriors demoralised ahead of Rio Olympics

MIGHTY Warriors players are unhappy with the $500 allowance they were given by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) for the duration of Rio Olympics, a development believed to have dampened morale ahead of their clash against former world champions Germany on Wednesday.

The Mighty Warriors who went on to lose the game 1-6, were initially promised $1 000 each, hence anger was brewing within the camp following the ZOC decision to slash their allowances by half.

Several players who spoke to Sunday News Sport soon after arrival at the Olympics Village in Brazil said they were not happy with the way they are being treated after making history, becoming the country's first football team to qualify for the world's biggest sporting showcase.

The players who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were shocked to be given allowances of $500 for the duration of the Olympics saying they expected to get at least $1 000.

One of the players said they had not received any allowances since they began preparing for the Olympics or when they moved to camp in Bindura.

"We expected them to make amends and at least give us the $1 000 we were all expecting. The players are not happy about this and are demoralised. We did the nation proud in qualifying and we expected just rewards," she said.

Another player said they felt ZOC was treating them unfairly as ZOC chief executive officer Anna Mguni dressed down their manager, Charity Mudzviti after she confronted her over the allowances.

Mguni allegedly told Mudzviti that Olympic gold medalist Kirsty Coventry does not complain hence they were not justified to air their grievances.
"The least they could have done is to engage us respectfully and tell why they are giving us that amount. The mood is just low in camp and it will be difficult to put in maximum efforts going into the group matches. We made the nation proud and we feel we should be treated fairly and not like this. The players are unhappy," said another player.

The country's chef de mission Titus Zvomuya said unavailability of financial resources had forced them to set the allowances at $500 and all those involved had been made aware the figures would be determined by available resources.

"The issue of allowances was clearly articulated in all our weekly management meetings that this was dependent upon ZOC getting the necessary resources. All athletes and officials got the same amount. There is no standard figure as this is based on available resources," said Zvomuya.
Concerns were also raised over the quality of team's kit with some saying it was substandard as shown by the texture and quality of the cloth.

"We do not know where the kit came from but the quality is very poor. We were hoping for better since we are going to the Olympics," said a source within Team Zimbabwe.

Zvomuya however, said the kit was of a high standard and has no qualms about it adding the Team Zimbabwe kit was "sponsored by a very generous company that came to our assistance at a time when our economy is not doing well", and that they were grateful for the assistance.

Zimbabwe fell 1-6 to Germany in their opening match on Wednesday and were scheduled to face Canada last night before wrapping up with a match against Australia on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, Inline director Trust Kwembeya rallied the Mighty Warriors urging players that have a history with his side do the nation proud.
In a post on Facebook, Kwembeya told the players to leave a mark and not just make up numbers.

"Joy (Rejoice Kampfuvuti, Samu (Samukelisiwe Zulu), Rudo (Neshamba), (Nobuhle) Majika now you believe when we used to tell you one day you will play at the highest platform at Rio. Don't be participants only but leave a mark and bring good results back home. No excuses!!!! You have been playing from the age of 8 years, surprise the Germans," wrote Kwembeya.