THE Warriors are set to have a drama-free run-up to the
African Cup of Nations tournament after the fund-raising committee tasked to
mobilise resources for their campaign got off to a good start when they managed
to raise half the target during their initial fund-raising dinner on Wednesday
night in Harare.
The Warriors are already in Egypt where they are bracing
for the tournament opener against the hosts scheduled for next Friday night.
They are in Group A along with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Before their departure, the players had made a passionate
plea to the Government and the private sector to help their cause by raising up
to US$500 000 to cater for their accommodation, allowances, bonuses and other
expenses in the run-up to and during the tournament.
The players said they would want to focus on playing
football in their quest to go past the group stages for the first time without
having to worry about money issues and camping glitches like what transpired in
the previous campaigns.
The Special Warriors Fundraising Committee spokesperson,
Eve Gadzikwa, believes the target is achievable after they got overwhelming
responses during their first fund-raising dinner on Wednesday night at Cresta
Lodge in Harare.
The event was completely over-subscribed and they managed
to pull together US$218 000 and close to $3.5 million. An air of patriotism
filled the packed arena as the Government contributed the biggest chunk through
the Guest of Honour, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who announced a package of
US$200 000 and an additional $300 000.
There was also an auction of replicas and souvenirs. Harare
businessman, Kudakwashe Tagwirei, was the highest bidder for the President’s
famous scarf which went for $250 000.
A soccer ball and a jersey signed by President Mnangagwa
were also auctioned to the tune of US$10 000 to Mutare businessman, Tino
Machakaire.
The second set was snapped up by Zimplats for US$3 500. The
third was sold for US$1 500 to Beautie Makiya MaSibanda.
South Africa-based Zimbabwean business concern,
Zororo-Phumulani, also pledged R15 000 for every goal scored by the Warriors
during the Afcon campaign, among many other pledges made on the night.
Gadzikwa yesterday said the members of her committee were
overwhelmed by the responses and revealed plans to spread their efforts to
other parts of the country and to the Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
“The event was quite a big success. It was oversubscribed,
the turnout was phenomenal and the venue was overflowing. It went beyond our
expectations.
“We were humbled to have the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa)
in our midst and he led the way by announcing a hefty package from the
Government. He even offered his famous scarf and we managed to raise quite a
substantial amount from its auction.
“Considering that this was the first event by this
committee, which was only put in place just over a month ago, we can only be
positive that things will work out well.
“We are happy with what we got but we are not going to rest
on our laurels. There is still more work to be done considering the economic
environment we are working in,” said Gadzikwa.
The fund-raising committee, which comprises captains of
industry, cabinet ministers and sports administrators, was put in place by
President Mnangagwa last month.
To ensure transparency, they have engaged reputable
multinational professional services firm, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, to audit all
the funds contributed towards the Warriors cause.
Gadzikwa said prospective donors can send their
contributions and pledges via all platforms which include bank transfers to a
CBZ account dedicated solely for this venture and mobile money services offered
by the country’s major three networks – NetOne, Econet and Telecel.
Chairman of the committee Kazembe Kazembe, who is also the
Acting Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, said they will account
for every dollar raised.
“So far we have been working around the clock to ensure
that we get the necessary resources for the Warriors.
“I want to assure the President and the entire Zimbabwe, on
behalf of the Warriors 2019 Afcon Committee, that we will be very transparent.
“We will fully account for all the resources that will be
raise in order to maintain the cordial relations that we have with the
corporates and all the individuals that are going to support us.
“To that end we have engaged Pricewaterhouse Coopers to
ensure that there is hygiene in our finances and I am glad to say that they
have pledged their services free of charge as a contribution to this national
cause,” said Kazembe.
Warriors’ team manager, Wellington Mpandare, said the
Warriors are bracing themselves for the tournament as they seek to progress
from the group stages for the first time. The Warriors were knocked out early
in 2004, 2006 and 2017.
They arrived in Egypt last Sunday and are currently using
the meagre resources from Zifa for their transport and upkeep during the final
preparations in the North African country. Participating teams will only move
to the official Caf hotels five days before the tournament kicks-off.
Speaking to The Herald from Cairo yesterday, Mpandare said
Zifa had done their best to secure decent accommodation and food supplies,
which are a bit expensive in Egypt. The team has also been paying around US$200
for bus hire every day and US$500 for the training pitch daily.
“Remember we can only get into the official hotel five days
before the start of the tournament, which is on Sunday. So it was not going to
be easy for Zifa and the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) did something that we
really never expected. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment