Chimedza Says He’s Still Owed Air Ticket Money After Blasting ZIFA Over Fusire Saga
Warriors legend Cephas Chimedza who last played for Zimbabwe in 2008 has revealed that he is still owed money for air tickets as he tore into the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) over its long-standing failure to prioritise player welfare.
Former Warriors left back Cephas Chimedza has launched a scathing attack on ZIFA, blaming decades of poor player welfare management for the controversy surrounding rising star Sean Fusire.
Fusire recently pulled out of Zimbabwe’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, citing concerns over travel arrangements and recovery management — sparking a wave of debate among fans and officials.
Chimedza took to Facebook to applaud the Sheffield Wednesday midfielder for taking a stand:
“Well done to Sean Fusire for standing up for yourself and educating some office people about player welfare. The same stories we heard from Mashinkila Khumalo and Bambo, I personally experienced them years later. It’s unacceptable that players in 2025 are still being treated this way.
I’m still owed money for air tickets after being told ‘buy for yourself, we will reimburse you.’ We can’t expect the boys to keep going through the same. As a nation, we love football, but we don’t want to do things the right way.”
Chimedza further accused ZIFA of recycling the same administrators and ignoring experienced ex-players:
“The problem is we recycle the same people and never incorporate former players who have the knowledge. That’s why player welfare doesn’t exist and has never truly existed in our system.”
Fans Back Fusire and Blast ZIFA
Chimedza’s comments struck a chord with supporters, who also weighed in heavily on Facebook:
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Kaiso Shoko: “Someone then misuses the money later on.”
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Ronald Vheriwa: “Most of us understand the politics, but we forget players have their own welfare to be met. Patriotism doesn’t mean neglecting their rights.”
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Noel Vengai Zambezi: “They even owe him enough money to upgrade the ticket. Many players’ careers ended under ZIFA mismanagement.”
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Nhlanhla Dube: “What disappointed me was the attempt to drag the boy’s name. Whoever did that should be ashamed.”
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Phill Murambiwa: “Fusire has taken us back to the days of Bambo and Mashinkila. Our players are not taken seriously — the Association treats them like a joke.”
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Albert Chiwandamira: “People saying he should pay for himself are missing the point. What he asked for is standard. He is raising the bar for all players.”
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Luckson Mukozho: “We lack professionalism in football as a nation. The question is — who is benefitting from player welfare funds? This rot must end.”
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Godfrey Shumba: “The boy only wanted better travel arrangements, knowing he is recovering from injury. That’s fair.”
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Courage Kufa: “It’s real, he did the right thing.”
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David Manyepwa: “Very firm young man.”
One supporter, Vincent Mangoma, questioned whether the team manager could have done more. Chimedza clarified that financial matters are beyond the manager’s control:
“Team manager is not responsible for the finances. His hands are tied.”
The Bigger Picture
Chimedza’s remarks highlight long-standing frustrations in Zimbabwean football: players still facing the same neglect seen decades ago. With fans rallying behind Fusire, the saga has once again exposed ZIFA’s inability to prioritise player welfare — an issue that continues to stain the image of the national game.