Dube faces fans

offices in the capital. Dube said his board was aware of the possible impact that the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Asiagate report had on sending the domestic Premiership spiraling into chaos just a few weeks before the curtains are drawn.
More than 80 players, the majority of whom play in the domestic Premiership, are in the line of fire and face a ban ranging from a year to 10 years while there was a reprieve for high-profile South Africa-based players — Nyasha Mushekwi and Washington Arubi.
Contents of the report remain a highly-guarded secret.
Dube heard a number of testimonies, from representatives of fans from teams like Dynamos and CAPS United, at his offices in the capital yesterday, with all of them pleading for the Zifa board to pardon the players.
The Dynamos supporters’ representative at the meeting said he was concerned that eight of the team’s regular players could be in the firing line and was worried about the timing of the release of the Asiagate report and the implementation of the recommendations.
He claimed that there was concern, especially within the DeMbare camp, that the timing of the report and the corresponding ban on their players was all aimed at derailing the Glamour Boys’ battle for the league championship and defence of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
“Most of us believe that you are doing this to fix Dynamos at this stage of the championship race,” he said.
“Can’t you see that the timing, that these guys want to sabotage Dynamos so that we do not win the league and the Mbada Diamonds Cup?
“I’m appealing to you that these boys might have done something very wrong but whatever you are going to do in punishing them, take into consideration that football is their livelihood. Some of them do not have even three O-Levels and if you ban them, then their lives and their families will disintegrate.”
In response Dube said that, as a father and a leader, he had a conscience and he will deal with the issues in amanner that was professional and would not disturb the championship race.
The Zifa boss also revealed that during his youthful days, he was a DeMbare fan but he had since moved on, since assuming national duties and he was now a representative the entire football family.
Dube said he had the heart to forgive because he was aware of the fact that some of the players, who find themselves in the firing line now, were fooled into the dirty games while others were threatened.
“I’m a father and I have a heart too and I can assure you that I will look into all this and find the best way to deal with the issue,” said Dube.
“I’m aware that some of our players were young then and were easy to manipulate while others were forced into a situation where they had to act accordingly or they faced serious threats.
“But, as much as I want to forgive, you should also know that I have a board and I don’t operate alone and I have to go back to my other board members and we discuss this and find the best way possible.”
Dube also said they will try, as much as possible, not to affect the remainder of the league programme and the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
“There are about four or five weeks remaining in the league and I know they are also trying to have some mid-week games so as to accommodate the cup competition,” said Dube. “We will try not to disturb it.”
Dube was hailed by the ZNSSA representatives for his clean-up exercise of domestic family.
The two parties haven’t been on good terms of late until ZNSSA leader, Eddie “Mboma” Nyatanga decided this week to land his support to the Zifa president and end the impasse.
Dube said he had forgiven the ZNSSA leaders, who apologised for the reckless statements they made in parliament claiming that the Zifa president might have influenced the voting pattern during the elections that brought him to power.
ZNSSA leader, Nyatanga, said they were now ready to work hand-in-hand with the Zifa administration.
“Today is a very important day in our relationship with the Zifa board and to get to this point we have crossed so many bridges and scaled so many mountains,” said Nyatanga.
“A lot has been said and done but that is a past that we want to forget and, from today, we want everyone to know that as ZNSSA, we are solidly behind Zifa and its president Cuthbert Dube.”
Yesterday’s indaba, which was also attended by ZNSAA executive members Wellington Mpandare, Fortune “Giant” Bgwoni, Eddie Chivero and Eddie “Styles” Masunda, was initiated by Zifa councilor, Cornelius Bwanya.