ZIFA benefactor, Wicknell Chivayo yesterday delivered on his promise and handed over a vehicle to Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi.
BY HENRY MHARA
The Harare businessman, who also donated a 2016 Toyota Hilux D4D V8 double-cab truck for use by Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa last month, had pledged to do the same for Mlauzi.
And true to his word, Chivayo gave Mlauzi a brand new Toyota Hilux D4D double-cab truck.
Mighty warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi (right) speaks after being handed over keys to a Toyota Hilux, while Wicknell Chivayo (centre) and Philip Chiyangwa look on yesterday [/Caption]
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Harare yesterday, Chivayo, who last month unveiled a $1 million sponsorship package for Zifa, said he remains committed to supporting all national soccer teams.
Zifa president, Philip Chiyangwa said they decided to give Mlauzi a car as an appreciation for guiding the Mighty Warriors to the Rio Olympic finals.
Mlauzi, who had to briefly abandon the team’s camp in Bulawayo to travel to the capital, said he was grateful, adding that the vehicle would make his job easier.
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“I’m so delighted and I’m so excited that I’m out of words,” he said.
“I want to thank the president (Chiyangwa), and our principal sponsor (Chivayo) for this gesture. I’m a lucky man to come in an era where we have bosses who consider our concern. Having a car will make my job easier. I will present this car to the team, because I believe it is for the whole team despite being personalised in my name.”
The Mighty Warriors are preparing for the Women Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin early next month and the Rio finals later in the year.
“I want to assure the president that we will continue flying the country’s flag high. We will make you proud in the Afcon qualifiers and at the Olympics,” he added.
Women football chairperson Elizabeth Langa said: “We had so many challenges as women football. For example, when we wanted to go around the country to scout for talent, transport was a challenge. But with this car, the coach can now be able to move around and scout for talent with ease. As women football, we have always played second fiddle to our male counterparts, but this new board has put us at the same level.”
Zimbabwe will begin their Women Afcon matches with a first round first leg match trip to Tanzania on the first weekend of March, before the return leg in Harare two weeks later.
If they go past Tanzania, they will face the winner between Zambia and Namibia in the final qualifier for the finals to be staged in Cameroon.
Mlauzi said he would use the qualifiers as preparations for the Rio Olympics, where Zimbabwe and South Africa are the continent’s two representatives.
