Chapungu in trouble

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
IT appears Chapungu have landed themselves in hot soup over remarks made by their assistant coach Clement Mugari. The Premier Soccer League yesterday indicated they are going to ask the club to furnish them with evidence of bribery by FC Platinum.

Failure to do that, said the PSL, will see Chapungu being dragged before a disciplinary hearing.

On Saturday Mugari accused FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza of “buying referees” to sway matches in their favour.

This followed a penalty converted by FC Platinum midfielder Winstone Mhango in the 86th minute which gave FC Platinum victory.

Mugari charged towards Mapeza after the final whistle and accused him of bribing referees as he felt the penalty awarded by Ruzive Ruzive was not justified.

The referee adjudged that Chapungu defender William Ngonya had fouled Marshal Mudehwe who was charging towards goal and awarded the spot-kick.

Chapungu head coach John Nyikadzino, in his post-match interview, also implied that they lost due to some other forces.

“As for the result I think it’s a case of us losing due to circumstances we can’t control,” said Nyikadzino.

Yesterday, Premier Soccer League chief executive Kenny Ndebele said they want the club to substantiate their claims with evidence and failure to do that will trigger a disciplinary hearing over utterances which bring the game of football into disrepute.

“We are writing to Chapungu to provide us with proof or evidence of the bribery and hopefully they will do that. If they fail to provide that proof, they will be summoned and we will call them for a disciplinary hearing. The rules and regulations are clear and you cannot make accusations unless you have evidence.

“The evidence they should produce should conform to his statement on how the referee was bribed and how much money exchanged hands and where,” said Ndebele.

Chapungu yesterday told our sister paper H-Metro that they were going to file for an official complaint to PSL over the manner in which their match was handled.

And Ndebele said he was yet to see that letter.

“I haven’t seen the report and if they writing with evidence we will then take it from there, but if they are writing to us without evidence they should provide us with evidence,” said Ndebele.

It seems the Pure Platinum Boys’ perfect start in the league have already unsettled some of their opponents.

Mapeza’s charges have three victories in as many games.

“Our focus is now on Ngezi in the next game and I don’t want to talk about that Saturday incident now, but as a club we will remain with our feet on the ground,” said Mapeza. “It is too early to say anything about the league title, but it is always good to have a perfect start as it gives confidence.

“The most important thing we must not forget is that guns will come blazing at us and any day we are going to lose, any day we are going to draw and we have to accept that.

“Anything can happen in football any day and as a coach I am prepared for all that. But for now it is good for the players, the club and everyone involved with the club as winning can only give you confidence.”