THE Warriors are set to pocket $475 000 in appearance fees at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals set for Gabon in January following an increase of the prize money by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The Warriors, who qualified for the Afcon finals for the first time in a decade, will be among the 16 teams guaranteed a pay cheque from the continental soccer-controlling body.
They are guaranteed of the $475 000 before they even kick a ball, part of which could help them with the preparations for the January tournament.
Caf wrote a letter to all national associations affiliated to them advising them of the increase in prize money for the tournament.
“In view of the decision made by the Caf executive committee during its meeting held in Cairo, Egypt, on September 27, 2016, Caf, hereby, informs you of the update of the revenues grid detailing the allocation of revenues for national teams and clubs taking part in the final phases of the Caf competitions during the four-year cycle, 2017 to 2020.
“The grid has been revised upwards, taking into consideration the renewed agreement reached with our agencies in charge of commercialising TV and marketing rights of Caf competitions. The allocations below are applicable as from January 2017. Additionally, as a policy matter, Caf will usually transfer to each team, prior to the beginning of the final tournament, 50% of the revenue allocated to teams finishing fourth in their groups in order to facilitate the teams’ preparations,” the letter reads.
The Kalisto Pasuwa-coached side are in Group B at the January Afcon finals in Gabon, together with giants Senegal, Algeria and Tunisia.
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If the Warriors finish third in the group, they will pocket $575 000, while reaching the last eight will see them walking away with $800 000.
The semi-finalists will get a $1,5 million pay cheque, with the runners-up set to receive $2m. The winners of the tournament will pocket a $4m pay cheque up from $1,5m, representing an increase of 166%.
The Warriors have never gone beyond the group stages of the competition in the two editions that they have participated at, in 2004 and 2006.
But while Caf have significantly increased the prize money for the men’s competition, they continue to marginalise women football.
The eight teams, including Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors, that will participate at the Africa Women Cup of Nations, which starts next week in Cameroon, will get a paltry $7 500 for appearance at the tournament.
Semi-finalists will get $15 000, while the winners will receive $50 000, the same package for the men’s Under-17 Youth championships.
The figures will, however, be reviewed from next year, but they remain very low.
Qualified teams will get $20 000 in appearance fees, with third finishers in the group getting the same amount. Semi-finalists will get $25 000, while runners-up and winners will walk away with $40 000 and $80 000, respectively.
It appears the discriminatory treatment that Caf gives to women football cascades to the national football associations, which do not take women’s football seriously.
Mighty Warriors have been treated with disdain by Zifa ahead of their trip to Cameroon.
They were not in camp until a fundraising committee led by Lillian Mbayiwa and initiated by Sports and Recreation minister Makhosini Hlongwane rescued the situation and mobilised resources.
Mighty Warriors coach, Shadreck Mlauzi, whose team is facing South Africa in a friendly match today, the same team he will play at the finals in Cameroon, said recently: “Most associations are reluctant to support women’s football. So it is hard to get friendly matches. For us, we are way behind with our preparations, so we would accept anything at this moment.”
