The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
MIGHTY Warriors players have expressed disappointed over unfulfilled promises as they are yet to get housing stands they were promised by the Government and are yet to take receipt of Samsung mobile phones they were supposed to get in Brazil during the Olympics.
Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane promised the players housing stands last April after beating Zambia to qualify for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations that was held in Cameroon in November last year.
Hlongwane had announced during a dinner that the Government was not in a position to offer cash rewards but would certainly avail 30 housing stands in Harare.
The girls expressed frustration, saying they felt their efforts would not be rewarded.
“We were happy when the announcement was made because we felt we had been doing the nation proud but received no recognition but we are afraid the stands issue could be another hoax.
“We had to endure difficult conditions considering we were not getting any allowances or payment but still we were bringing glory to Zimbabwe,” said one national team player who declined to be named.
Another player said they had received the news with joy but this had slowly turned into disappointment.
However, a top Sport and Recreation Ministry official allayed the Mighty Warriors’ fears saying red tape was holding up the process.
Principal Director in the Ministry, Benson Dube said the players will be getting their stands soon as the Government had decided to give them serviced stands.
He said initially the plan was to give the footballers stands in Caledonia but the ministry felt it would be an injustice to the players as they would have to bear the costs of servicing the land.
Dube said the ministry also felt it would be best if each player was given a stand in a town or city of her choice instead of bundling them up in Harare.
“Remember when the announcement was made stands were going to be availed in Harare only but there was a change and each player was asked to state the town they prefer to have a stand in.
“This meant the slowing down of the process as we had to collect their full details and forward them to officials in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing who would then start allocating stands in various towns. Again servicing stands takes time,” he said.
Players who were part of the team that travelled to Rio for the Olympics were supposed to receive Samsung S7 phones that were given to all athletes are also still to get the gadgets.
Every Olympian was given the latest Samsung phone but the Mighty Warriors did not get theirs as they were staying outside the Olympic Village.
Chef de Mission, Titus Zvomuya confirmed bringing the phones but said the matter was being handled by the Sport and Recreation Ministry. He said paper work relating to their entry into the country had been finalised.
However, Sports and Recreation Ministry secretary, Godfrey Chipare declined to comment on the issue saying it was a Sports and Recreation Commission’s baby.
Efforts to get a comment from SRC officials were fruitless.
