Lack of incentives for the national Under-23 squad contending for a place at the All-Africa Games has adversely affected the preparations for their crucial qualifier against Cameroon. by Kevin Mapasure
While Zifa is grappling with non-co-operation by some top-flight clubs over the release of players, the mother body has also been caught offside and is just as liable in the shambolic preparations the Young Warriors have so far gone through ahead of the second leg. Zimbabwe will travel to Cameroon carrying a 1-0 first leg win and require at least a draw to progress to the Games.
About half of the players called in by the technical team have failed to turn up, while those that have reported for camp could still vacate and leave Kallisto Pasuwa stranded.
Of the players that are in camp, only six played a part in the first leg win, with most key players holed at their clubs.
It has emerged that while the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixture schedule and consequently the refusal by clubs to release players have dogged the team’s preparations, the lack of incentives for this match has compounded the problems.
After the first leg of their All-Africa Games qualifier against Cameroon, whom they clash with on April 12 in Doula, the Young Warriors were each paid $100.
With the first leg win, the players were expecting to receive some winning bonus or at least a promise that they would be paid, but silence accompanied the $100 allowance.
Only 14 players had turned up for training by Tuesday afternoon with clubs refusing to release other players due to the bumper Easter programme where each club will play two matches.
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However, some of the players have been reluctant to push for their release, hoping to represent their clubs in the two matches, and line themselves to earn more in winning bonuses before joining camp for national duty ahead of the second leg.
The situation has left the technical team, led by Pasuwa, in a difficult position where at best he would only get a day’s training with the full complement of players.
Zifa is only offering players the measly allowances and there is no talk of winning bonuses, while there has been subdued talk of a qualification bonus, but Zifa has not committed itself formally. Some PSL clubs pay up to $500 in winning bonuses, while others offer figures ranging between $150 and $300.
Zifa media manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday said that the association does not disclose what it pays to junior players. “We do not disclose what we pay for junior teams,” Gwesela said. “What I can only confirm to you is that we are paying them something.”
But some players have confirmed that they only got $100 for their efforts against Cameroon and do not know what to expect for the second leg or even qualification.
“We only got an allowance of $100 after the match,” one of the players said. “There has been no mention of financial rewards for qualification.”
While the players are committed to national service, some of them have extra responsibilities and look to use every opportunity to earn some money.
