By Austin Oduor Otieno,

Zimbabwe  players refused to travel to Malawi for the saturday clash against Zimbabwe in Blantyre  for the 2017 Afcon qualifying match.

The players refused to travel saying until the government will pay their s
allowances or assure them of the same.

The players checked out of the hotel but refused to board the team bus to the airport where they were to board Malawi airways at 1610 local time.

Coach Kalisto Pasuwa ,ZIFA CEO  Jonstone Mashingarindze and ZIFA marketting officer Wellingtone  Mugwagwa had to wait for the players at the airport in vain

The players are rumoured to have gone to the residence of the FA boss Cuthbert Dube in Groombridge as they insisted that only pay will make them leave.

Sources close to the federation hint that the team will now travel on friday via South Africa  just a day before the match.

Zimbabwe play Malawi on saturday im Group L.the winner of the group qualify for the 2017 AFCON in Gabon

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com