ZIFA could be forced to charter a flight for the Warriors to fulfil the preliminary round, second leg of their African Nations Championships (Chan) 2016 football qualifier against Comoros in Moroni on July 4 due to the unavailability of direct flights to the island nation.
BY SPORTS REPORTER
The Warriors, under coach Kalisto Pasuwa, beat Comoros 2-0 in the first leg at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday and should they proceed, they will play either Lesotho or Botswana, who drew 0-0 in their first leg, in the final qualifier for the finals that will be staged in Rwanda next January.
Yesterday, the financially-crippled national association was making enquiries at Air Zimbabwe for a small aircraft that would carry 18 players and eight officials for the match at a cost estimated at above $100 000.
The national airline was yet to respond to their request as Zifa tried to move with speed to conclude travel arrangements this week ahead of a camp that will start on June 30.
Should they get the charter, they expect to leave on July 2 and return a day after the match.
A trip around inland Southern Africa will be cheaper for Zifa, but getting to Comoros requires a trip via Nairobi, Kenya, or through Johannesburg, South Africa.
A quotation obtained from a leading travel agency in Harare yesterday indicated that all flights were fully booked until July 4, but a return ticket via Nairobi, including taxes, would cost $2 820 per person and for a 25-member delegation (18 players, seven technical team members and head of delegation), the total cost would come to $73 320.
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If the Warriors go via Nairobi, they will leave at 0245hrs on July 4 and arrive in the East African capital at 0645hrs.
They will then connect to Moroni at 1130hrs and arrive at 1535hrs — that’s kickoff time on Saturday July 4!
Because of the infrequent flights from that country, the Warriors can only return on July 9, leaving Moroni at 1615hrs and arriving in Nairobi at 1825hrs.
They will connect to Harare at 2300hrs and arrive at 0100hrs on July 10.
Before that, the team would need to be in camp for about three or four days and the players and technical team need to be paid their daily allowances (home and away), appearance fees and winning bonuses, which could drive the bill to close to $100 000.
According to the Zifa budget submitted to the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture through the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), airfares for the return leg are expected to gobble $60 000, while allowances will chew $18 600, bringing the total to $78 600 before match incentives.
On Sunday, during the first leg, a sizeable crowd was at Rufaro, but the income and expenditure of the day has not been revealed as yet, although it is understood Zifa made enough to cover their match day expenses.
Zifa operates without any government funding and have to rely on a few sponsors, notably, its president Cuthbert Dube, a church organisation, Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries fronted by Walter Magaya, Tanganda Tea Company, Herentals College and Munorurama Bus Company.
Speaking after Sunday’s first leg win, Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said: “We are grateful to fans and all partners who came on board to make this match a success with regard to players’ accommodation, food and allowances.
“The Premier Soccer League, Tanganda Private Limited, Munorurama Private Limited, Herentals College and Daisy Lodge all contributed generously towards the successful staging of Sunday’s match.
“While the association will not abdicate from servicing this flagship team, we appeal to various football stakeholders to partner the Warriors.
“Zifa continues to find itself in a precarious financial position. We need financial resources for the team’s airfares, en-route accommodation and allowances for the return leg and the association is financially constrained.
“Issues to do with our image have strained our relations with partners, but ladies and gentlemen, this is our country. Let us unite for the success of our beautiful game.”
Gwesela added: “When the guys are victorious, that glory does not come to Zifa, but the whole nation. Zifa is desperate for government and corporate funding and without the necessary support our beautiful game will remain in doldrums.”
