Eddie Chikamhi
THE Warriors’ proposed friendly match with Botswana, which had been scheduled for this Saturday at the National Sports Stadium, is not likely to take place.
While ZIFA yesterday gave match details for the proposed friendly, their counterparts in Botswana instead confirmed on their media platforms that they will be engaging Eswatini on Monday.
They remained silent on the trip to Zimbabwe.
The Botswana Football Association also revealed Zebras head coach Mogomotsi “Teenage” Mpote’s 25-man provisional squad for the friendly match against Eswatini at the Lobatse Sports Complex.
Reports from the neighbouring country said the BFA never committed themselves to playing a friendly match against the Warriors.
BFA chief executive, Mfolo Mfolo was blunt when he told Mmegi Sport that there was no such arrangement.
“We do not have any agreement to play Zimbabwe,” he said.
This came after the ZIFA Normalisation Committee had released a statement yesterday indicating they were making use of the FIFA international break to prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers scheduled to get underway next month.
“A Warriors squad of made up of both local and foreign-based players is scheduled to play Botswana in an international friendly on Saturday 14 October 2023 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare,” said the statement from ZIFA.
“The match kicks off at 1500 hours. Gate charges are as follows; $5 Rest of the Ground $10 Bay 15-18 $50 VIP.
“The squad will be publicised once all logistical issues have been finalised.
“Players will start arriving for camp on Wednesday (today). This match is an integral part of the country’s preparations for Matchdays 1 and 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers set for November 13 to 21.”
The Premier Soccer League yesterday were forced to cancel a full fixture programme that they had arranged for the coming weekend to make way for the Warriors and the Zebras.