Zimbabwe national team hit by chaotic preparations ahead of AFCON

A player revolt over camping facilities and anxiety over issues of bonuses have gripped the Zimbabwe national soccer team with only a few days before the African Cup of Nations finals which begin Jan. 14 in Gabon.

The Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) had to move in this week to book the Warriors in a city hotel after the players refused to camp at the Zimbabwe Football Association's ZIFA Village where five players would have had to share a room and a toilet, state media reported Wednesday.

The players argued that the ZIFA Village, which also had water and power problems, was below standard and opted to conduct training sessions while coming from their homes.

Team manager Sharif Mussa told The Herald that the players had inspected the village and found it to be unfit for their camp.

"The players collectively then saw it fit to engage their own well-wisher to try and see whether they can get comfortable and better accommodation than the village because they feel going into this campaign they need to prepare mentally and physically as well," he said.

FUZ president Desmond Maringwa said the union had booked the players in a city hotel but could not cater for coach Callisto Pasuwa and his technical team who have to meet up with the players for their training sessions at a private school.

The team also failed to conduct another training session at the National Sports Stadium allegedly because a 60 U.S. dollar fee for use of the stadium had not been paid.

Pasuwa is yet to name his final 23-man squad ahead of the team's departure which is scheduled for the weekend.

The issue of bonuses and allowances during and after the tournament was also still outstanding, Maringwa said. Endit