By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
The continent’s football governing body, The Confederations of African Football (CAF) fined the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) following the misbehavior by our senior national team at the CHAN finals in Cameroon, last month.
According to a source, ZIFA was charged for the Warriors’ refusal to leave the training ground, allowing their opponents Burkina Faso to conduct a training session at the same pitch, which is contrary to CAF rules and regulations.
“The team was fined because they breached CAF rules and regulations. They refused to leave the training pitch to allow Burkina Faso to train, as both teams were preparing to face-off on in the tournament’s group stage fixture that Zimbabwe lost 3-1. The Warriors claimed that they did not have a training programmed to guide their activities,” said the source.
The source also added that the country’s football mother body (ZIFA) was also fined for the misconduct by the newly appointed Warriors manager, Wellington Mpandare, for the unprofessional behavior conducted by Local Organizing Committee members,” added the source.
However, efforts to get a comment from the continental football mother body media department for confirmation were not fruitful.
CAF Media Director Mr. Alex did not respond to WhatsApp messages sent to him for his response, When contacted for comment the ZIFA Communications and Competitions Manager, Mr. Xolisani Gwesela said it’s a minor administrative issue.
A photo of the Croat tactician posing and kneeling down at the center of the pitch, with a paper written ‘Witchcraft in Cameroon’ showing a dead bat at the center circle spot, on the pitch,
allegedly accusing the hosts of witchcraft went viral on social media.
The incident occurred just before the tournament’s opening match in YaoundĂ© in Cameroon in which Zimbabwe lost the match by 1 goal to nil.
Zimbabwe was the first team to crush out of this year’s CHAN tournament, after losing all three group stages fixtures, to hosts Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The Warriors lost 1-0 to both Cameroon and Mali, whilst Burkina Faso edged them by 3 goals to 1.
They conceded 5 goals in 3 matches, being the first and worst Warriors’ CHAN squad to concede 5 goals in the group stage games, the worst historic defensive record after 3 games in the CHAN tournament.
Moreover, Logarusic’s troops only managed to score 1 goal in the whole tournament, courtesy of Dynamos defender, Patson Jaure.
The Warriors have featured 5 times in this tournament. A tournament that is played by players who ply their trade in their respective domestic leagues.
