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Warriors’ head coach Zdravko Logarusic and his assistant Lloyd Chitembwe have been barred from entering South Africa on Monday morning ahead of the COSAFA tournament.
According to the reports, Loga was believed he did not have valid South African visa while Chitembwe is reported to have been blacklisted for reasons that are not known.
This has left the squad with co-assistant coach Tonderayi Ndiraya and goalkeepers’ coach Tembo Chuma.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), Communications and Competitions Manager Xolisani Gwesela has issued a statement apologising to football fans and the nation at large for the gaffe, saying the association is now working on ensuring that Logarusic will join the team in Port Elizabeth as soon as possible.
“The Association would however like to inform the nation that the head coach Zdravko Logarusic has been denied entry upon arrival at Oliver Tambo International Airport on the basis of him not holding a valid visa for the host country, South Africa.
“The Association is now saddled with ensuring that the coach gets a visa and proceed and join the team in Port Elizabeth in the shortest time possible.
“Meanwhile, assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya will prepare the team in the absence of Coach Lloyd Chitembwe who was never pencilled to travel to South Africa as a result of his non-authorisation to travel to South Africa.
“We apologise to the nation for the inconvenience, however, the team remains in high spirits and ready to compete to everyone’s best abilities.”
The statement reads:
VISA CHALLENGES FOR COACH ZDRAVKO LOGARUSIC IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation that the Zimbabwe Senior National Men’s team the Warriors left this Monday morning for Port Elizabeth, South Africa via Johannesburg for the upcoming COSAFA Cup. The team arrived safely in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The Association would however like to inform the nation that the head coach Zdravko Logarusic has been denied entry upon arrival at Oliver Tambo International Airport on the basis of him not holding a valid visa for the host country, South Africa.
This is despite the fact that we confirmed with visa and travel agencies in Zimbabwe prior to departure and we were assured that as long he possessed a valid Zimbabwean workers permit, he would be allowed entry in South Africa.
We were then dismayed upon arrival when we were told by Immigration officials that only service and diplomatic holders from Croatia were exempt from South African visa requirements.
This was not been anticipated by the Association and the travel agent has availed a letter of apology after this debacle.
The Agent has also agreed to reimburse expenses resulting from this anomaly. Unfortunately, it is very clear that valuable training time has been lost as a result of this gaffe.
The Association is now saddled with ensuring that the coach gets a visa and proceed and join the team in Port Elizabeth in the shortest time possible.
Meanwhile, assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya will prepare the team in the absence of Coach Lloyd Chitembwe who was never pencilled to travel to South Africa as a result of his non-authorisation to travel to South Africa.
We apologise to the nation for the inconvenience, however, the team remains in high spirits and ready to compete to everyone’s best abilities.
We would like to assure the nation that the Association is making frantic efforts to remedy the situation.
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