The Zimbabwe Football family has been incensed by FIFA's decision on Thursday to throw the Warriors out of the African qualifying competition for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The international football controlling body expelled Zimbabwe from the qualifying rounds of the competition ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia over an outstanding debt.
FIFA said in a statement Zimbabwe owe "an exceptional debt” to former national coach Brazilian Jose Claudinei Valinhos.
FIFA ordered ZIFA to settle the debt in 2012 but nothing has materialized to date. The money backdates to Valinho's work with the Warriors since 2008.
First Zifa were given 30 days to settle the debt and the time was extended to two months but even after a three month extension, the local football association failed to honor the debt leaving Fifa with no choice.
"Given ZIFA’s failure to make any payment within the granted periods and the request presented by the creditor, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee – in line with its second decision – ordered the expulsion of ZIFA from the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia."
The Zimbabwe Lifelong Footballers Trust have been quick to react demanding that the whole Zifa assembly should resign in the wake of this disaster.
The decision by Fifa has left the whole country, a football-loving nation, shell-shocked.
Trust member Chris Sambo said this was a national disaster to allow our team to go without World Cup participation.
Women’s football follower and supporter of New Orleans Christine Matienga also joined the bandwagon saying Zifa have been a disaster.
Matienga said the Zifa executive should resign immediately.
An aspiring footballer, Last Jackson, said he is saddened by the latest developments.
Another football supporter Perfect Murimba, speaking in his vernacular language, also added his voice that if he had a choice, Zifa would be disbanded, adding the ministry of sport was right in asking the Zifa board to go.
Studio 7 was unable to get in touch with Zifa Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Mashinagidze to get his comment on the issue.
His mobile phone was unreachable.
