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This was confirmed in two separate interviews by Zifa chairman Cuthbert Dube and association chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze.
Both however could not give a hint on the agreed fines. Many players’ careers were doomed had Zifa stuck to its earlier decision to either ban or suspend the players.
Zifa are expected to announce the new position today as well as names of those in the six months to five years categories for their part in the Asiagate scam.
Zimbabwe’s world rankings got a severe battering between 2007 and 2010 when the Warriors played in tournaments chiefly in Asia to lose matches. These were organised by match-fixing and betting syndicates headquartered in Singapore.
Dube confirmed that as a board and council they had resolved to substitute the suspensions with fines to allow the players especially young ones to continue with their careers.
“We are parents as well, we really had to put a human face to this problem where gullible young players were used as pawns by corrupt officials. We would like to see them continue playing,” said Dube.
Mashingaidze in an interview last night confirmed that the Zifa board met last Thursday and moved the motion to fine the players instead of suspending them. On Saturday at the association’s extraordinary meeting, they resolved as councillors that issues be pursued.
“I have just come out of a meeting where we were looking at the way forward and outstanding names. It was resolved last night to lift the suspensions and instead fine players and in some cases wholly suspend the sentence. There has been a lot of consultation from last week to ensure there is no mix up.
“We have realised that youngsters were dragged into this mess by corrupt and greedy officials. The boys must be given a second chance as some are still very young with a bright future. The corrupt officials are the ones who should feel the heat,” said Mashingaidze.
So far Zifa have announced the list of those banned for life and 10 years.
The timing of the release of the Asiagate findings coincided with the rise to the top of Dynamos.
Speculation in some quarters was that the motive was to derail the DeMbare championship and cup campaign. A number of their players could have been affected by the ban.
Meanwhile, Mashingaidze disclosed that Zifa would honour Energy Murambadoro and Nyasha Mushekwi. The two are said to have broken down in tears when told to play to lose in Asia while teammates were keen accomplices of Wilson Raj Perumal’s scam.
“We have come up with a whistle blowing scheme on corruption in the game. We do not want Asiagate to recur, so there will be awards for players like Mushekwi and Murambadoro. We are also contemplating on even honouring journalists, a situation where they see no evil, hear no evil is not good. They must be in the forefront in the fight against match-fixing, betting and corruption in sport.
We hope our Tips anonymous drive will be good for our football,” said Mashingaidze.
The decision by Zifa to commute suspensions to fines will come as a relief to some promising young players and their clubs.
Brilliant football talents like Qadr Amin, Ali Sadiki, Daniel Vheremu, George Magariro, Danny Phiri, Zephaniah Ngodzo and probably the best goalkeeper in the land Tafadzwa Dube are some of the players likely to be fined.
Mashingaidze said that they would be attending to the mix up which saw former Sundowns, Railstars and Dynamos utility player Danisa Phiri banned for life.
The investigating committees erroneously added trips made by the young Chicken Inn defensive link Danny Phiri to his.
“We will look into that as well. So this time we want to be thorough so that we avoid similar mix up when we announce the new set of names,” said Mashingaidze.
Online Reporter