Did The Warriors Go To Botswana By Bus?

By Alois Bunjira

Some were saying they were driving from here (Harare) to Johannesburg, then Botswana. However, I am reliably informed they could not use the CAPS United bus to Botswana, because of some bureaucratic issues.

So, they flew from RG Mugabe airport, to OR Tambo airport, before connecting to Gaborone. From Gaborone they will then travel by road to Francistown…for the match that is on tomorrow evening in Francistown.

Fair and fine, we will get to Francistown eventually. But was that the best route to get there, or scientifically the best, amid the issues of no flights from Gabs to Francistown?

Considering we had players that travelled from Europe, and trained at the terrible Raylton sports club (which was surprisingly and sad),could we not find better travelling arrangements?

For starters, Why didn’t we have the team camping in Bulawayo and then take a coach across to Francistown, which is less than 200km from Bulawayo? Bulawayo has got hotels and nice training venues .Logistically ,it was the simplest thing to do…in my view.

Alternatively, why couldn’t the team fly to Bulawayo and then hire a Coach from Bulawayo to Francistown? Remember they will still have to drive from Gabs to Francistown ,which is about 500km.

But then again ,qualification is of utmost importance for Zimbabwe as a country as it markets Zimbabwe as a country and at the same time pushes and promotes domestic tourism.

There is also money paid for qualifying, which means direct foreign currency injection into the economy. Doesnt it then means this is a national issue?

Could ZIFA not have negotiated with the SRC and the government, to have the team flown straight to Francistown on a chartered Air Zimbabwe flight, which is a journey of about 40 minutes approximately?

This is a national cause ka and I want to believe the Air Zimbabwe Charter could even cost less than the route taken.

The Air Zimbabwe plane could Spare 2 hours to take the guys to Francistown and comes back to continue with its domestic work…and then spare the same amount of time to pick them up after the match.

Was there any presence of mind to think along those lines or we are still thinking about the frosty relationship between the SRC and ZIFA?

But surely a national cause could take precedence. These organisations, plus the sports ministry and the GVT, need to have a sound relationship and come together, especially when there are matches of this nature.

We should move away from those petty “government interference ” fights and cries, and let all parties involved play their part when necessary.

These things need proper planning and bouncing of heads, before the best implementation plan is outlined. Chiriporipocho hachiite.

Making decisions as you go, doesn’t really work.

I would not want to dwell on the sad issue of Tino Kadewere and Marshall Munetsi not making this trip even after the French GVT and French league had allowed them to leave France for this match.

It simply showed our lack of efficiency, which is a story for another day. The communication department also needs to be honest and transparent, instead of being cunning and sneaky.

News about the National team should be readily available via the communication department …especially through the website and social media platforms. These cannot afford to give conflicting information or lies.

After all has been said and done, I want to believe the players in camp will still do a job, beat Botswana, and qualify us for AFCON.

This is good for football and its development. We just hope there won’t be any other problems in the Zimbabwe camp, like the usual bonus issues. Qualification is very important for us and we will he rooting for our boys all the way.

Many thanks to Nyasha Mushekwi for buying the luxury bus for CAPS United, which is now being used domestically, by the Zimbabwe national team.

Many thanks to CAPS United for availing this bus to the Warriors. Maybe this can also make us look at the issue and difficulties Mushekwi, CAPS United and the very same bus went through, for the bus to gain entry into the country.

It is now serving the nation, and maybe things like these could get exemptions in future, as they promote sport and encourage donors, which helps in our development. My thoughts .
But then again…how on earth do we have a ZIFA, in 2021, which does not have an Official bus or buses for the national teams?

How come ZIFA doesn’t even have a car, or a scooter for the messengers or bicycle?
Knowledge Musona is around and that in itself instils some confidence in all of us. He has been a fantastic Captain for us over the years.
Tomorrow morning I will come up with my probable first 11.

Hoping this is going to be Loga’s first victory for the warriors ….

For now, I say …Go Warriors!!