The Sunday Mail
Mukudzei Chingwere
THE Young Mighty Warriors received a major sponsorship package ahead of the return leg of the U17 World Cup qualifier against Botswana in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe is trailing 5-0 from the first leg.
After the embarrassing defeat, Zifa has brought in Langton Giwa to lead the technical department ahead of the reverse tie slated for January 26.
Yesterday, Giwa’s girls were each promised RTGS$500 for participation, RTGS$15 000 to cover the team’s camping expenses, as well Herentals Group of College scholarship packages for all the girls in camp.
Herentals representative Fainos Madhumbu said they are not trying to influence the judgement, adding that giving has always been part of their DNA.
“People can talk about the timing, but eight years ago we were assisting Zifa and now in 2020 we are still assisting. As sponsors, we are not worried about the timing.
“Yes we are aware of the serious allegation, but we are not affected by that. As an institution, we are serious about sporting activities,” said Madhumbu.
Zifa board member Sugar Chagonda represented the Association at the occasion.
He thanked Herentals for the intervention.
Young Mighty Warriors skipper Tariro Chirume said the mood in the camp is high, with all their attention on winning the reverse tie.
“The mood in camp is very high. Looking at the way we are training, we have the capacity to overturn the first leg defeat.
“Stage fright affected us in the first leg, but now that we are playing at home, and the coaches have brought in some players who were not part of the team in Botswana as they did not passports then, we are stronger now,” said Chirume.
Coach Giwa was happy with what he saw at Zifa Village on his first day in charge of the team.
He is confident of overturning the deficit.
“I just started training today but based on what I have seen so far, we have the capacity to overturn the result.
“The most important thing is fitness and a number of them are okay, plus we are also working on tactics which are easy for the players to follow,” said Giwa.
