Broke Zimbabwe may quit 2014 World Cup

HARARE - Agence France-Presse

Augsburg’s Knowledge Musona (L) of Zimbabwe is seen in a Bundesliga game. AFP photo

Zimbabwe may be forced to withdraw from the 2014 World Cup qualifying competition as the national football association has no money for a fixture in Egypt during March, a senior official said.

“There is no money for travel expenses and other incidentals,” said Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) vice-president Ndumiso Gumede. “We have decided not to play international games unless the government chips in with financial assistance.”

The football association is saddled with a $2 million debt in unpaid accommodation, transport and other bills that accumulated over several years and has been running on handouts from its president, Cuthbert Dube, and diamond firm Mbada Diamonds.

Zimbabwean football has been tainted for several years by a match-fixing scandal in which former chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya sent the national team to play unsanctioned friendlies and an Asian betting syndicate allegedly fixed the results.