After the Somalian defeat, ZIFA is being viewed by some as everything that’s wrong with our local football squad. A Daily News Editor said in the 9 months that Kamambo and his board have been in power, the team has been reduced to a punching bag. The editor penned:
The Ocean Stars are ranked 202 in the world and are now on the verge of completing one of the most remarkable fairytales in sport if they avoid defeat in the reverse fixture on Tuesday. Everything was wrong with how the Zifa organised the preparations and travelling arrangements for interim coach Joey Antipas’ team for this game. First, Antipas was ordered not to select players like captain Knowl- edge Musona, his deputy Ovidy Karuru, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Danny Phiri, George Chigova and Talent Chawapihwa.
In a surprising move, Antipas also allowed Zifa to strike a deal with Aston Villa which saw mid- fielder Marvelous Nakamba skip- ping this qualifier against Somalia. The Warriors did not train prior to their departure for Djibouti while the foreign-based players only flew directly to the match venue from their respective bases. All these cocktails of poor judgment has increased the pressure on the Zifa board which is currently reeling following the Mighty War- riors no-show for their 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games qualifier against Zambia at the National Sports Stadium.
Zimbabwe lost to Somalia on Thursday after they went to Djibouti ill-prepared to play against the Ocean Stars. Joey Antipas pinned their defeat on logistics.
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