The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
ZIFA vice president Omega Sibanda claims Nigeria have become the latest nation to express interest in playing the Warriors ahead of the Africa Nations Championships.
“The Warriors are in demand with a number of countries having approached us for possible friendlies,” said Sibanda.
Cameroon are reported to have already written to Zifa requesting a friendly while the Association’s president Philip Chiyangwa was last night expected to table a proposal to the South Africa Football Association to have Bafana Bafana square up against Kallisto Pasuwa’s men.
Sibanda said Zifa is keen to ensure that the Warriors are well prepared for Chan.
“We discussed the Warriors during our first board meeting on Tuesday and we are agreeable that we need a strong performance at next year’s Chan in Rwanda.
“The technical team has requested at least two friendly matches and as we speak we have already been approached by Nigeria and Cameron, who all want to play us before the start of the tournament.
“We are also looking at the possibility of travelling to South Africa for another friendly and we should be announcing the program very soon,” he said.
With just one board meeting under its belt, Sibanda – who is the acting president in the absence of Chiyangwa – reiterated that the new leadership will not be making knee jerk decisions.
“We have just started and I would say we have had a good start,” he said.
“We are aware some stakeholders are expecting us to be very radical in the way we do business but there is no need for this. We don’t want to do things that will win us plaudits now, but then come back to haunt us tomorrow.
“The secret to success is a very cautious and decisive approach. I am very impressed with the human resources in the board. It’s blessed with men of action, men of enormous experience in football administration and senior management expertise. To be quite honest, I foresee wonders under this board of great professionals.”
