The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) was compelled to hastily assemble a squad to face the Zimbabwe Defence Forces select team on Tuesday at Rufaro Stadium, after the Zambia Defence Forces withdrew from the scheduled tournament.
ZIFA announced a 21-player squad, comprising athletes from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL), just 24 hours before the match was set to take place.
In a statement, ZIFA revealed that technical director Jethro Hunidzarira would serve as the head coach, with Jacob Chavungama assisting him for the exhibition match.
According to <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/warriors-hastily-assemble-for-zdf-celebrations-as-zambia-pulls-out-amid-diplomatic-tiff/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>, the withdrawal of the Zambia Defence Forces came on the back of diplomatic tension between Harare and Lusaka.
In June, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Konstantinosky Palace in the Petrodvorets district of St. Petersburg, Strelna village, Mnangagwa said the West was using Zambia to isolate Zimbabwe.
According to a transcript of the meeting published by the Kremlin, Mnangagwa said Western countries were consolidating their power in Zambia “in terms of security and in terms of financial support” thereby isolating Zimbabwe.
In response, Zambia’s Foreign Minister, Mulambo Haimbe, said Mnangagwa’s comments were an “unwarranted attack on Zambia’s sovereignty.”
Speaking at a post-cabinet media briefing last week, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, said that the the Zambia Defence Forces would be part of the celebrations. Said Muswere:
<blockquote>
The major update on the Defence Forces Day Celebrations is that the select team from the Zambian Defence Forces will play the select team from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces at Rufaro Stadium.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the locally-based Warriors team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Select squad to claim the 2024 Defence Forces Day trophy, with Simba Bhora forward Tymon Machope’s strike making the difference.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

ZIFA had to quickly put together a team to play the Zimbabwe Defence Forces team after Zambia backed out. They picked 21 players from the Premier Soccer League just a day before the match. Jethro Hunidzarira will be the head coach. Zambia pulled out because of disagreements between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The locally-based Warriors team won 1-0 against the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, with a goal from Tymon Machope.

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