The Government of Zimbabwe through the Sports and Recreation Commission has boosted the national football team, the Warriors with a $1 million package ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Finals in Gabon.
The money is a timely boost after the team’s main sponsors, Netone paid them a hefty $250 000 to be used for players and officials’ allowances in Dubai.
Minister of Sports and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane confirmed they approached the country’s football governing body, ZIFA.
This triggered off the government’s internal consultations processes that included speaking to acting president Emmerson Mnangagwa who helped in the facilitation of the package.
“We hope this package will help the players and officials progress without any disturbances,” Hlongwane stated as quoted by Zimbabwe football website, Soccer 24 Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe football federation, like the rest of the 16 finalists have already received $237, 500 from CAF for preparations, as part of the $475, 000 money for the team that finishes at least fourth in the group.
A glamorous send off awaits the team in Harare.
Quite a number of other African countries have been well facilitated by their respective Governments.
Cote D’Ivoire received $6M, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Gabon, Mali, Togo, Egypt all range between $ 3-$5M.