…as ZIFA Secretariat acknowledges call for an extra ordinary congress
Fredrick Moyo
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has given an update on the Zimbabwe men’s football team that is in Cameroon to take part in the upcoming 2022 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals set to begin on Sunday, January 9.
In a Press statement dated January 5, released by the Board of Commissioners which included the SRC Chairman Gerald Mlotshwa advised all members of the public that the Warriors are in Cameroon for the 2022 continental showdown as they continue to engage global Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) updating them on the administration of football in Zimbabwe.
“The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) would like to advise members of the public that the Zimbabwe men’s football team – the Warriors are now in Yaounde, Cameroon to participate at the 2022 AFCON Cup finals.
“The SRC has a US$1 million budget for the Warriors campaign made up of US$800 000 and ZWL$21 000 000 to finance their participation at AFCON, inclusive of appearance and match fees.
“The Warriors started camp on the 23rd of December 2021 in Harare where they were in a bio-secure bubble at a local hotel. Therefore, players who made it to the final Warriors squad together with the technical team and support staff left for Yaounde, Cameroon to begin their second leg of camping which was from the 29th of December 2021 and ended yesterday 4th of January 2022.
“This evening (January 05) the Warriors fly to the official ‘Game Village’ in Baffousam where CAF has made arrangements for their accommodation and related logistics.
“The Warriors were training in Yaounde at the Presidential Guard stadium. The team was availed additional medical personnel who are Covid-19 specialists in the view of the current operating environment by CAF,” read the statement.
The secretariat also said morale is high in the camp.
“The ZIFA Secretariat advises that the camp is in high spirits. The SRC commends the ZIFA Secretariat for their dedication and commitment with the regard to the Warriors participation at AFCON.
“The SRC continues to engage FIFA positively in updating them on developments regarding football administration in Zimbabwe,” read the statement.
The Warriors will lock horns with the Lions of Teranga (Senegal) on January 10, before taking on the Flames (Malawi) on January 14, and wrap up their group campaign with Guinea’s National Elephants on January 18.
This is the fifth time the Warriors have qualified for a big tournament in Africa but have never gone past the group stages in the competition.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has notified the Secretariat of the intention to hold an extra ordinary congress in which all suspended members of the board will answer all the accusations levelled against them.
This was communicated through a press statement dated January 5, 2022, signed by ZIFA Head of Communications, Xolisani Gwesela stating that the Secretariat have acknowledged the receipt of correspondence from some ZIFA members who called for the extra ordinary congress.
“The ZIFA Secretariat acknowledges receipt of correspondence for some ZIFA members dated January, 3 2022 and their call for an extra ordinary congress in line with Article 28 of the ZIFA constitution.
“The Secretariat has verified the credentials and authenticity of members who called for the meeting. The members who appended their signatures in a letter to ZIFA Secretariat are bona fide ZIFA Members.
“It is noted that ZIFA Executive Committee as well as General Secretary are suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), and are therefore not able to meet as a board to convene an extraordinary general congress, please note the provision contained in Article 28(2) of the registered Constitution of 2013 which now applies and we quote: ‘If an Extraordinary Congress is not convened, the Members who requested it may convene the Congress themselves’,” added the statement.
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) suspended the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board with immediate effect accusing the board of several transgressions which including abuse of public funds and gross incompetence.
