THE Zimbabwe women’s team, the Mighty Warriors on Saturday failed to travel to Ivory Coast for the 2016 Olympics qualifiers after failing to secure flight seats for the trip.
Cash-strapped Zifa were by Saturday still running around trying to purchase air tickets but their efforts hit a brick wall.
It then became too late to even secure seats from a chartered plane as they struggled to get funds.
A begging bowl on the government’s table was not even enough to see them travelling.
Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said they had explored all avenues available to raise funds but with no joy.
“Zifa would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that our women’s football team failed to travel to Ivory Coast for an Olympic qualifier due to lack of financial resources,” Gwesela said.
“As you are aware, we are in dire financial situation and hence we could not secure tickets for the fixture. We even approached the government to help us find this trip but they told us they were also facing financial constraints.
“We would like to reiterate that all over the world, governments have a duty to financially assist national teams.
“We therefore would like to apologise to the Mighty Warriors technical team, players, the football family and the entire nation for this sad development.”
The team is now starring at the possibility of being banned from taking part in the 2020 Olympic qualifiers as a result of these developments.Advertisement