Zimbabwe's Warriors get code of conduct

Zimbabwe's Warriors get code of conduct

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By Steve Vickers

THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has introduced a code of conduct that players must sign before going into national team training camps.

Players will only be allowed visitors at certain times, they may not use mobile phones during training sessions and are forbidden from coming to training in private cars.

Zifa's new system began this week, ahead of the Warriors' World Cup qualifier away to Angola on Sunday.

Foreign-based players such as captain Peter Ndlovu preferred to go to training in their own cars in the past.

"We want unity in the team. Some players have expensive cars and it can affect the locally-based players who have to use the bus," said team manager Ernest Sibanda.

The Warriors are hoping to regain momentum after a 3-0 home defeat to Nigeria in their last qualifier, a result that Zifa blamed on "rampant indiscipline in camp."

One player, Shingi Kawondera, was fined by Zifa for going to a nightclub on the weekend of the match and they also acknowledged that many players have been bringing girlfriends into the team hotel.

Coach Rahman Gumbo was sacked for failing to maintain discipline in camp.

Although Zifa said that wayward players would be dealt with before the game against Angola, the new technical team decided that this would not help matters.

Code of Conduct's key points
• Set times for visitors
• No mobile phones at training
• No travelling in private cars

"We felt that it wouldn't make any sense for us to come in as a new coaching department and to immediately send players to disciplinary hearings," Sibanda said."We want the focus to be on the Angola game."

He added that in the event of Zimbabwe managing a good result in Luanda, there will be no place for wild celebrations.

"Win or lose, the players will go back to their hotel rooms straight after the match," he said.

"They will only be allowed to celebrate when they get back to Zimbabwe."
BBC
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