Zifa playing hide and seek with Gorowa

Sport
Warriors coach Ian Gorowa is holed up in Harare battling to meet the Zifa board as hopes of him securing a contract are slowly fading.

Warriors coach Ian Gorowa is holed up in Harare battling to meet the Zifa board as hopes of him securing a contract are slowly fading.

BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

With just three weeks before Zimbabwe kickoff their Afcon qualifiers amid reports that Zifa are set to replace Gorowa with Methembe Ndlovu, Zimbabwe could be headed for another doomed campaign as past grim events seem to be repeating themselves.

Gorowa jetted into Zimbabwe from his South African base last Wednesday for negotiations of a new contract but Zifa has been evasive.

He is set to fly out on Wednesday.

Following the expiry of Norman Mapeza’s contract last month, Zifa can now contractually engage another coach.

Gorowa has indicated interest to commit pen to paper and is frantically seeking audience with Zifa to iron out various issues.

The issues include five months’ outstanding salary owed to him, as well as reimbursement of money he used for airfares and accommodation when he reported for national duty.

“I was trying to help the nation, so that is why I worked for five months without a salary,” said Gorowa.

“It is not right that we now communicate through the press and that is the worst thing which should not continue to happen.

“I have been here trying to get hold of anyone on the board but in vain. The president [Dube] usually attends but now there is no one. All I am saying is ‘gentlemen, let us talk face to face. Hopefully I will meet them soon for progress’ sake.”

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach is also fighting in the players’ corner after Zifa failed to honour their promise of sharing half of the Chan proceeds promised to the Warriors for reaching the semifinals.

“If we cannot satisfy these players then we will have problems with them in future, especially with the Afcon qualifiers beginning soon.”

Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze professed ignorance of an intended meeting with Gorowa. He also declined reports that Ndlovu has been lined up to replace the incumbent gaffer.

“The contract has to be signed before the qualifiers start but right now we need a technical report from the coach on the games he has been in charge of. We also need his calendar of events,” said Mashingaidze.

Gorowa is expected to hand in his action plan to board member corporate affairs and projects Tavengwa Hara who is also in charge of national teams.

“Handing an action plan to them is a very noble idea and I have the reports already prepared. But how can we discuss when a lot of issues have not been ironed out and no one is forthcoming to entertain me? All I need is to talk to someone,” said Gorowa.

While things appear to be in shambles and getting worse, Zifa expects the coach to name the Afcon qualifiers squad next week.

The draw for the qualifiers will be conducted in Cairo, Egypt today.

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