Warriors refuse to train over pay dispute

Nehanda Radio
Warriors coach Jose Valinhos has not publicly commented on the issue but the players made their feelings known by staging a sit-in at the team hotel on Wednesday afternoon.

05 September 2008

By John Mhunga

Zimbabwe's players have boycotted a training session in the build-up to their 2010 World and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Guinea in a dispute over pay.

The Warriors refused to train on Wednesday afternoon until Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) officials paid them outstanding bonuses and allowances from previous matches against Namibia and Kenya.

The players claimed that they were still owed money for their Cosafa Cup match against Zambia and the international friendly against Botswana in Harare last month.

On Thursday they returned to training, having been promised by Zifa that the problems would be resolved on Friday.

Zifa are also said to have failed to pay the Warriors' coach Valinhos his monthly salary since May.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority paid the Brazilian, who was appointed in January on a one-year contract, for the first five months of his term with the football association then taking over the burden.

The coach has not publicly commented on the issue but the players made their feelings known by staging a sit-in at the team hotel on Wednesday afternoon.

Zimbabwe need to win the game on Sunday to make sure of staying in contention in their qualifying group.

They currently lie third with five points, behind Guinea and Kenya who both have seven points.

Kenya host Namibia this weekend in the other game in the group and defeat for Zimbabwe plus a victory for Kenya would leave the Warriors stranded in third place and out of both the World Cup and Nations Cup. -BBC Sport, Harare.

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