The High Court has ordered the Zimbabwe Football Association to pay US$1.2 million debt to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
ZIFA was given US$225 000 for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match and US$1 million to send the senior men football team, the Warriors, to the tournament that was hosted by Gabon.
The football governing board was supposed to pay the capital sum in 24 instalments of not less than US$46 666 starting on or before February 28, 2017.
ZIFA has been failing to pay back the loan since then and POTRAZ wants the association to pay all the money including the interest which is at 5% per anum.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zifa-ordered-to-pay-back-us12-million-debt/">The Chronicle</a>

Pindula News

High Court Orders ZIFA To Pay US$1.2M Debt

Warriors skipper <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Willard_Katsande">Willard Katsande</a> was named in the Best XI of the Africa Cup of Nations  Group Stage.  Despite the fact that Zimbabwe finished the tournament with a single point after a draw and no wins,   Katsande’s was picked in the best eleven by renowned football website, ESPNFC.
Writing for ESPNFC, James Ames praised  Katsande for appearing all over the pitch and providing a firm foundation for the Warriors’ attacking play.
Speaking of Katsande, Ames says:
<blockquote>This may have been the Zimbabwe captain’s last action in international football, and if that is the case, it was hardly a bad way to go. In their shock draw with Algeria he marshaled the minnows superbly, appearing all over the pitch and providing a solid base from which his attacking colleagues could break. He also helped steady the ship after a torrid start against Senegal, bringing his experience to bear once more.</blockquote>
The  Best XI also includes Kara Mbodji and Sadio Mane of Senegal as well as Tunisian Wahbi Khazri.  These players battled against the Warriors in the Group B and the last two proved a thorn in the Warriors’ side with each of them scoring against Zimbabwe.  Interestingly enough, highly rated Algerian players Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani did not make the final eleven, showing that Katsande’s performances were rated highly. No other Warrior made the squad.
Here is the Best XI of the Africa Cup of Nations  Group Stage
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-12429" decoding="async" height="415" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px" src="http://www.pindula.co.zw/news/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AFCON-Best-XI.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AFCON-Best-XI.jpg 738w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AFCON-Best-XI-300x169.jpg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/AFCON-Best-XI-600x337.jpg 600w" width="738"/>
More: <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/african-nations-cup/76/blog/post/3047316/sadio-mane-of-liverpool-and-wahbi-khazri-of-sunderland-lead-our-african-nations-cup-group-stage-best-xi">ESPNFC</a>

Willard Katsande makes AFCON Best XI for Group Stage despite Zimbabwe's early  exit

ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa said that he was satisfied with the way the team had performed at the African Cup of Nations in Gabon.
Said Chiyangwa:
<blockquote>The Warriors qualified and appeared at so many other competitions prior and appeared at AFCON and this all courtesy of a good coach in Pasuwa who is a very reliable coach and has done extremely well for Zimbabwe under difficult circumstances. Nobody can doubt that we have got serious economic problems that affect any planning. So to expect a miracle out of whatever has happened and what miracle has happened in fact is something else because of the leadership that is there at ZIFA led by myself. Thank you again Pasuwa. You did very well, you campaigned up to the Gabon championships and you were there and you showed the world that you are a good coach and we have good players and there is nothing to complain about, I am very happy with the way you played and I remain very happy and to this day I am just expressing my own personal opinion without having to bother about whose other opinions are there.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/chiyangwa-backs-warriors/">Herald</a>

Chiyangwa speaks on Warriors' AFCON performance

One of Zimbabwe’s star players had an angry confrontation with the referee during Zimbabwe’s defeat to Tunisia in their last game at the Africa Cup of Nations.  According to the Herald, the referee and one of his assistants were heard discussing the scoreline of the group match B  which was being played at the same time as the Warriors match.
The Herald’s source told them:
<blockquote>The incident was sparked by a row between one of our star players and the referee after he said he heard the referee asking his assistant what was the scoreline in the other group match between Algeria and Senegal while our game was in progress
Our player was taken aback by that and asked the referee and his assistant as to why they wanted to know the scoreline in the other match since their responsibility was just about handling our game as fairly as possible</blockquote>
The Herald also questions why Zimbabwe were the only team who had more than one match handled by referees from the same country.
<blockquote>When you look at all the other group matches you will see that Zimbabwe were the only ones who had match officials, coming from the same country, handling more than one of their games and that’s quite interesting, isn’t it?</blockquote>
The article also questions some of the decisions made by the match officials as having shades of bias.  The Herald’s source said:
<blockquote>You look at that decision to say Mushekwi (Nyasha) had fouled his marker, when Tunisia were still leading 1-0 and you also look at that penalty which should have been a foul for handball against that Tunisian and everything appears to make sense.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/caf-conspiracy/" target="_blank">Read the full article in the Herald</a>

Warriors player in angry confrontation with referee  during Tunisia match

Speaking to NewsDay, Tendai Ndoro blamed the Warriors’ poor performance at AFCON on inadequate preparations. He said the team didn’t have adequate preparations and that it was always going to be difficult at the Afcon because they had not played enough friendly matches together as a team.
Said Ndoro:
<blockquote>We were very unfortunate; things didn’t work well for us. But this was a learning curve, and we will bounce back and do well in future tournaments. I think we didn’t have adequate preparations and that cost us as a team. We managed to play just one international friendly match, but if you look at other teams like Tunisia and Algeria, they played a number of friendlies. I tell you, if this team had been supported, in terms of their preparations, it was going to surprise.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/01/26/shoddy-preps-cost-us-ndoro/">NewsDay</a>

Tendai Ndoro blames inadequate preparations for Warriors' poor AFCON performance

Speaking in Parliament today, Minister of Sport and Recreation, <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Makhosini_Hlongwane">Makhosini Hlongwane</a> apologised for the Warriors’ performance at AFCON 2017 in Gabon. You can view the video with part of the apology below:

Minister of Sports apologises for Warriors' performance at AFCON

After an unsuccessful campaign at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations by the Warriors, <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Football_Association" target="_blank">ZIFA</a> is to make massive overhauls to the technical team as well as the squad.  The  Warriors were eliminated after finishing bottom of their group with one point.
A ZIFA executive member who spoke to the Chronicle said:
<blockquote>We are not at all amused; heads will roll, believe me. After embarrassing the Acting President in their send-off ceremony and forcing us to bow down to their astronomical demands, this is what they repay us with. ‘Operation Restore Dignity’ is on the horizon before our next engagement in April.</blockquote>
Warriors’ coach <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/news/2017/01/25/pasuwa-throws-towel-takes-responsibility-warriors-failed-afcon-campaign/" target="_blank">Callisto Pasuwa has already resigned</a>.  However, his two assistants Saul Chaminuka and Mkhuphali Masuku and goalkeepers’ coach Rueben Tswatswa are set to face the chop.  Manager, Shariff Mussa’s job is also at risk after the players revolted before departure, demanding their allowances.  Players who were behind the revolt are also going to face disciplinary measures.
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/heads-will-roll-zifa/" target="_blank">Chronicle</a>

ZIFA to wield the axe,  Warriors technical team faces overhaul

The Zimbabwe Warriors’ coach <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Callisto_Pasuwa" target="_blank">Callisto Pasuwa</a> is has announced his resignation after taking responsibility for the Warriors’ failed campaign in Gabon.  Pasuwa has decided to quit the National team in order to allow another coach to take over and build from where he left.  He was the Warriors’ coach for the past two years.  Zimbabwe finished the campaign with 1 point and was last in Group B, after failing to win any of their matches.
Speaking to the Herald, Pasuwa said:
<blockquote>Following Zimbabwe’s participation at the African Cup of Nations in Gabon, where we unfortunately failed to go beyond the Group B stage, I think I should step aside and make way for another coach to take over.
We had set ourselves a target of at least a quarter-final place, which regrettably we couldn’t reach and it’s painful as the decision may be I think we tried but failed. As the head coach, I take full responsibility for our performance in Gabon and I thus tender my resignation from the post of Zimbabwe senior men’s team coach.
I believe it is time to pass on the button to someone to take over for the 2019 AFCON qualifiers and beyond.</blockquote>
Pasuwa also took the time to thank many of the people who had supported him during his time as head coach.  These people included but were not limited to his Manager Gibson Mahachi,  <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Wicknell_Chivayo" target="_blank">Wicknell Chivayo</a>, <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Walter_Magaya" target="_blank">Walter Magaya</a>, Mrs Rusere of Daisy Lodges, <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Cuthbert_Dube" target="_blank">Cuthbert Dube</a>.
More: <a href="http://www.newsdzezimbabwe.co.uk/2017/01/pasuwa-i-quit.html">Herald</a>

Pasuwa throws in the towel, takes responsibility for Warriors' failed AFCON  campaign

According to ZIFA spokesperson the Zimbabwe Warriors have checked in at the Libreville airport and will depart for Ethiopia where they will sleepover before proceeding to Harare. They are expected to touchdown at Harare International Airport tomorrow at 12pm.
The Warriors lost 4-2 to Tunisia to crash out of the tournament for the third time in the first round stage.

Warriors leave Gabon after crashing out of AFCON 2017, expected to arrive tomorrow

Zimbabwean and Orlando Pirates striker, Tendai Ndoro who came off the bench in the 57th minute to score the Warriors’ second goal against Tunisia yesterday said that they did their best as a team despite their 4-2 loss. Ndoro told SportsZone that Tunisia took advantage of the bad start to the game and after that, it was difficult to come back into the game.
Said Ndoro:
<blockquote>We tried our best. But look, when they had scored three, it was always difficult to come back into the game. We didn’t give up. We kept on pushing and attacking. We couldn’t just defend but they took advantage of that. The most important thing is that we put up a fight and tried hard to come back into the game. But this is part of the game and we believe we can recover again as a nation. The Tunisians showed they were prepared for the game, they had planned against us and they managed to win the game. We are out but we should never lose hope in the future.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://sportszone.co.zw/News/NewsArticle?id=2514">SportsZone</a>

Tendai Ndoro speaks on the Warriors' performance against Tunisia

Speaking to CAF, following the Warriors’ defeat to Tunisia, Mamelodi Sundowns star <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Khama_Billiat">Khama Billiat</a> admitted he was disappointed by the premature exit.
Said Billiat:
<blockquote>It’s a very difficult moment for me. I just want to thank God, and all Zimbabweans who were behind us all the way. We know we could have done better. But it’s a learning curve for us, and we keep going as a team.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.kickoff.com/news/72458/khama-billiat-acknowledges-zimbabwes-afcon-failure">KickOff</a>

Khama Billiat speaks on Warriors' early AFCON exit

Video:  Highlights of Zimbabwe vs Tunisia

Zimbabwe bowed out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon after they were humbled by Tunisia. The <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_National_Football_Team" target="_blank">Warriors</a> lost by a score of 2-4. In a rather disappointing performance,  Zimbabwe conceded three goals in the first 36 minutes. Naim Sliti’s deflected shot put Tunisia ahead before Youssef Msakni and Taha Khenissi extended the lead.
When Tunisia seemed to be on the verge of running riot over Zimbabwe, <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Knowledge_Musona" target="_blank">Knowledge Musona</a> managed to pull one goal back before half time. However, <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Costa_Nhamoinesu" target="_blank">Costa Nhamoinesu</a> conceded a penalty almost soon afterwards which allowed Tunisia to regain their three-goal lead. <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Tendai_Ndoro" target="_blank">Tendai Ndoro</a> prodded in a Zimbabwe counter attack, before Khenissi hit the post in a wasteful second half.
In the other Group B match, Senegal drew 2-2 with Algeria who finished third and was eliminated.
This means that the Warriors finished last on 1 point while Senegal finished first on 7 points and Tunisia second on 6 points.

Warriors crash out of AFCON after losing 2-4 to Tunisia

<ol>
<li>Tunisia and Zimbabwe meet for the first time in a tournament having previously met just twice  in international friendlies. The first was on 7 November 1998, where the two teams recorded a 1-1 result, then another 1-1 stalemate 10 days later.</li>
<li>If Tunisia win, they are through to the quarter finals, despite the Algeria/Senegal result. If Senegal beat Algeria and Zimbabwe beat Tunisia, Zimbabwe will be through to the quarter finals for the first time in history.</li>
<li>Tunisia have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations 18 times while Zimbabwe have qualified only three times the first being in 2004 when Tunisia hosted  and won the 24th edition of the tournament.</li>
<li>If Algeria beat Senegal, both Zimbabwe and Algeria are on level points. Head-to-head of the two teams would not apply, since they had a 2-2 stalemate. Qualification would be down to goal margins in the two ties.</li>
<li>Despite returning to training, Zimbabwe key forward Knowledge Musona remains a doubt after picking a hamstring nine minutes into the group B opener against Algeria.</li>
</ol>
More: <a href="http://www.soccer24.co.zw/2017/01/23/17213/">Soccer24</a>

Five things you should know ahead of Zimbabwe's AFCON 2017 match against Tunisia

Zimbabwe senior men’s football team coach, Callisto Pasuwa commented on the Warriors’ performance in the 2-0 loss against Senegal
Pasuwa is quoted by CAF as having said:
<blockquote>We were unsettled in the first 20 minutes. It was two quick goals that unsettled the team and our boys were jittery too. But for the two early goals, we would have seen some good football from my boys. The Senegalese were very physical and due to that one of my key players, Khama was running away from receiving balls. This is the kind of football you should expect at this level. We lost but it is not over.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.kickoff.com/news/72355/zimbabwe-coach-callisto-pasuwa-expects-more-of-khama-billiat-following-senegal-defeat-at-afcon#.WIHGPJxVVac.twitter">KickOff</a>

Callisto Pasuwa speaks on Warriors' performance against Senegal

Midfielder <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Marvelous_Nakamba">Marvellous Nakamba</a> is now available for selection after missing the opening Group B encounter against Algeria after being suspended for accumulating 3 yellow cards during the qualifiers.
The 22-year-old is predominantly a holding midfielder although he can also play further forward if required. The Senegalese match tomorrow will mark the player’s 23rd Birthday.
More: <a href="http://www.soccer24.co.zw/2017/01/18/17014/">Soccer24</a>

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