Banda lied — Cosmas Nyoni

Banda was quoted in the media saying that he has never met Nyoni, a claim the former referee is disputing.
In a wide ranging interview with Chronicle Sport, Nyoni said he met the Zifa Southern Region chairman at his office after “failing to deliver results” from Central Soccer League games.
Nyoni claims that he met Banda after returning from the Chrome Stars-Tripple B, Hardbody-FC Glow and another match involving Ziscosteel.

Nyoni said the fiasco on the alleged match-fixing scam in Central Soccer League started when suspended Zimbabwe Referees Committee (ZRC) vice-chairperson Samukeliso Silengane assigned him to come up with three sets of referees to officiate in that region.
“Samu (Silengane) called me into her office and told me that Gift Banda said I should assign referees for Central Soccer League. I questioned why I must do that as there was someone in that area assigned to appoint referees. I was told that those were tricky games and there were people with interests in those games.

“She also told me that Hokonya wanted a team from Beitbridge because people from Gweru did not like him. Please note, I never met Hokonya or Banda at that stage as Silengane was transmitting messages.
“Actually I was told that in those games Tripple B were supposed to win with the other results being draws. The results did not go according to their plans and that did not go down well with Banda who summoned me to his office on my return,” said Nyoni.

Nyoni claims they were at loggerheads with Silengane and Banda after telling the referees who went for those matches that they had to choose between protecting the referees’ integrity and fixing the games as according to instructions from Silengane.
Nyoni said the referees went on to handle their respective matches in a professional manner.
On the recordings that are with the investigating committee that are said to be fingering the former Fifa referee on match fixing, Nyoni said he would be appealing against his suspension.

“As far as I am concerned I believe those recordings were doctored. I haven’t heard any of the recordings. If ever it is me on those tapes it might be lies and I have to seek legal advice because I cannot be suspended because of some tapes which I do not know of. Those tapes are the centre of attraction and I do not know why they have not been played to me?” said Nyoni
He denied ever giving Alfred Mbuse, the referee who was used to trap Nyoni.

“Mbuse is or I can say was my best friend until this thing (match-fixing allegations). I remember Mbuse came to my place around 6am and claimed that he had a hangover. He suggested that we go to a certain drinking hole in my area but I told him that I couldn’t drink without eating.

“We then waited for shops to open around 8am and we bought our stuff, left for a farm out of town where we spent the day. At the farm he kept receiving calls and was jittery every time he answered his phone. He claimed that the woman  he was speaking to was his girlfriend. I only learnt that he had been talking to Silengane when we were about to leave the farm.

“Later on he started introducing football topics and I fell for that. If he had recorded me, I think it was at that stage. As we were talking he asked me to borrow him some money which he said he would pay back on his return. When we got home around 7pm, he did not take the money but came back at 11pm for the $200.

“I was shocked the following day when a match commissioner called me to say that Mbuse was claiming that I bought him. When I spoke to Mbuse he had changed completely and was very hostile. We exchanged harsh words,” said Nyoni.

Nyoni said rumours that were doing the rounds that he took money from Cuthbert Dube to  implicate Banda, Silengane and Hokonya were unfounded.
“At no time did I meet the Zifa president or take his money. I am suspended that means that I am not allowed to be near the Zifa offices. Why will I go there when I’m suspended? I will only go there when they call me for the hearing,” Nyoni said.

A committee led by Ndumiso Gumede is investigating the allegations of match-fixing in what has now been termed the Zimgate.