Sports
Method Mwan
jali - banned
for life
number of prominent figures in football circles affected. Apart from the 15 life-bans, a host of players and officials faced suspensions from the game ranging from six months to 10 years while a list of 16 players and officials that were exonerated of any wrongdoing in the Asiagate scandal by the Ethics Committee was also released. The cleared 16: Brighton Tuwaya, Costa Nhamoinesu, Cuthbert Malajila, Cyril Mukweva, David Kutyauripo, Dr Edward Chagonda, Edward Sadomba, Energy Murambadoro, Gilbert Banda, Justice Majabvi, Kingstone Nkhata, Lincoln Zvasiya, Mthulisi Maphosa, Richard Mteki, Solomon Makuvaro, Washington Pakamisa, Willard Manyatera In a statement released following the announcement of the life bans, Zifa stated: “The ZIFA Board would like to place on record our deepest appreciation on the Justice Ebrahim Committee for a sterling job they did in coming up with the report. The Committee had to endure a lot of hurdles ranging from lack of cooperation Page 94
by some witnesses, lack of information trail at ZIFA House, scarcity of resources, to the sophisticated and delicate nature of the investigations, to mention but a few... the dark episode should be consigned to history’s dump site and it is incumbent upon the entire family of football to jealously safeguard the game of football from the enemies of football. Let us not wait for this long to name and shame individuals who have no respect for our game’s ethos. We say ‘zero tolerance’ to match-fixing and illegal betting.” The banned individuals: 1.Henrietta Rushwaya – former ZIFA Chief Executive 2.Jonathan Musavengana – former ZIFA Programmes Officer 3.Kudzai Shaba – former licensed player agent 4.Sunday Chidzambwa – former senior men’s national team coach 5.Thompson Matenda – former senior men’s national team fitness trainer 6.Godfrey Japajapa – former Premier Soccer League (PSL) fixtures secretary 7.Rodwell Dhlakama – former Monomotapa coach 8.Emmanuel Nyahuma – former national team goalkeepers’ coach 9.Robson Sharuko – journalist working for The Herald 10.Edmore Sibanda – former national team goalkeeper 11.Danisa Phiri – former national team player 12.Thomas Sweswe – former national team player 13.Guthrie Zhokinyu – former national team player 14.Method Mwanjali – former national team player and captain 15.Hope Chizuzu – former Monomotapa official Other individuals involved in the Asiagate scam were however spared life bans with some getting suspended sentences while others h ad to either pay fines or face bans of between one and five
w
years. Players such as Artwell Mukandi, Asani Nhongo, Augustine Mbara, Charles Chiutsa, Christopher Samakweri, Gilbert Mapemba, Tafadzwa Rusike and Tendai Samanja were slapped with US$2 000 fines while Nqobile Mpala and Ocean Mushure were fined US$3 000 each. Lionel Mutizwa got a US$7 000 fine while there were wholly suspended one year bans for Nyasha Mushekwi and Washington Arubi. Other players to be fined included Ali Sadiki, Ashley Rambanapasi, Beaven Chikaka, Benjamin Marere, Brian Mapfumo, Daniel Kamunhenga, Daniel Vheremu, Daniel Zokoto, Eusebio Manwere, George Karimupfumbi, George Magariro, Godfrey Mangove, Johannes Ngodzo, Luckmore Simango, Makai Kawashu, Menard Mupera, More Moyo, Phillip Marufu, Ramson Zhuwawo, Tafadzwa Dube, Tapiwa Mapfunga, Tendai Gwata, Tsungai Mudzamiri, Voster Chitema and Zephaniah Ngodzo. Former Monomotapa coach Taurai Mangwiro was handed a 10-year ban with Norman Mapeza getting a sixmonth ban while Luke Masomere and Methembe Ndlovu got two-year bans. Monomotapa director Solomon Mugavazi was handed a five-year ban while former Warriors manager Ernest Sibanda and Motor Action coach Joey Antipas were handed wholly suspended five-year bans.
The Future
While Asiagate may have had a detrimental effect on local football, particularly the national team over the past year, and possibly the immediate future, an iron fisted clampdown on this cancer called match-fixing will lead to a cleaner game, free from corruption. After all, Zimbabwe’s football has been littered with match-fixing allegations for years, culminating in what was termed the Centralgate scandal that involved teams playing in the ZIFA Central Region Division One league, also known as the Central Soccer League (CSL). On the regional and international front, other nations that have essentially been armchair observers of events unfolding in Zimbabwean football boardrooms and law courts, may have learned from ZIFA’s experience and are now better placed to nip this practice in the bud, before it February 2013
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