D-Day for Herentals

Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
THE ZIFA Appeals Committee are today expected to hand down judgment on Herentals’ appeal against both conviction and sentence over match-fixing allegations.

The Students were found guilty by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee.

However, they approached the ZIFA Appeals Committee to nullify the decision to have them docked three points and fined $300 000. The allegations stemmed from Herentals’ 3-0 win over Black Rhinos on October 19, last year. Black Rhinos team manager, Gift Kamuriwo, was handed a three-year ban.

He would effectively serve a two-year ban if he paid a $10 000 fine.

The loss of the three points would have seen Herentals being demoted from the top-flight league.

In that scenario Chapungu, who were relegated from the top-tier league last season as the top side among those who went down, would have bounced back.

However, that could also change depending on what happens to an appeal by Whawha and Tenax, who were kicked out of the PSL for failure to pay their affiliation fees.

Herentals feel the decision to find them guilty was flawed as some of the evidence used was extracted when those who made allegations against them were under duress.

The Students also questioned why, if indeed the result of the match was manipulated, the Rhinos players — who would have played a part in the scam — were never identified or dragged before the disciplinary bodies. If their 3-0 win was fixed, said Herentals, then their players were not the only people who participated in the alleged scam.

The case has dragged for a long time now.

But, after postponing the hearing on more than two occasions, the ZIFA Appeals Committee finally sat down last week.

Their verdict is set to be released today. Herentals secretary-general Fainos Madhumbu confirmed yesterday that they had been told judgment will be handed down today. “The judgment of that matter will be handed over on March 20 (today). The ZIFA Appeals Committee sat and we submitted all the details and we will be waiting to hear the outcome.