ZIFA were last night making frantic efforts to save their 2018 World Cup dream with a $81 000 debt hanging over their heads as minutes ticked towards the deadline set by world football governing body to service it or be excluded.
BY SPORTS REPORTER
Zimbabwe were excluded on March 10 for failing to settle the debt owed to former Warriors coach Jose Valinhos, who was fired in 2010 for poor results.
The initial debt was $60 000, but spiralled to $81 000 due to legal costs and interests after Zifa failed, time and again, to meet dates set for the clearance of the bill.
A three-man Fifa delegation was in the country three weeks back and issued the “end of May or early June” deadline to the broke association, while Sport minister Andrew Langa has always insisted that something will be done to ensure the Warriors are part of the July 25 draw in St Petersburg, Russia.
Speaking exclusively to NewsDay Sport from Zurich yesterday morning where he was attending the Fifa Congress, Zifa board member Tawengwa Hara said: “There was no deadline. It was said end of May or early June. We are finalising it today (last night) after elections I think.”
