Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS have moved to distance their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League rivals from allegations levelled against suspended head coach Genesis Mangombe, saying no other club or official is implicated.
The Harare giants were taken aback by the manner in which their letter of suspension to their coach was misinterpreted, particularly by some social media hawks, who sought to also drag ZIFA and the PSL into the matter.
DeMbare, through club executive chairman Vincent Chawonza, yesterday issued a statement on the matter, which has been a subject of intense debate since a letter to Mangombe leaked into the public domain on Tuesday.
Chawonza said Mangombe’s suspension letter was meant to be confidential but had leaked.
The letter cited insubordination, alleged use of traditional rituals, administrative misconduct and claims of possible match manipulation.
“The Club categorically states that, based on the preliminary findings and information currently available, no allegations have been made against any other Premier Soccer League club, official, or external individual,” read part of the statement.
Dynamos said references to specific fixtures in the letter were included only because those matches formed part of the internal investigation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the suspension letter alleges that match manipulation was effected through the deliberate deployment of players in unsuitable positions.
“References to specific fixtures and opposing clubs should not be interpreted as implicating any opposing team or its officials,” the club said.
Mangombe was suspended this week pending a disciplinary hearing within 14 days.
Other charges which the coach face include failure to comply with club procedures and claims that players were compelled to take part in spiritual rituals against their beliefs.
Mangombe, who has been linked with a move to Premiership basement club Triangle, has not publicly responded.
Dynamos said the leak of the suspension letter was unauthorised and stressed the matter was “an isolated internal issue” with no evidence the league’s integrity had been compromised.
- The letter of suspension addressed to our Head Coach was an internal document which was never meant for public consumption. Unfortunately, the said letter was leaked, and the information has been prematurely passed out.
- We note from your letter that your main concern relates to the match or game manipulation allegations raised against our Head Coach.
- As your letter correctly states, what we have are still allegations currently under investigations. The investigations have not yet been concluded. We therefore are not yet at liberty to divulge or share any information with any outsiders prematurely. Doing so will definitely compromise the integrity of the investigations, and potential witnesses with valuable information may become hesitant to come forward and open up. Confidentiality and safety of all potential witnesses is equally of paramount importance given the seri-ousness of allegations raised. In this regard, we cannot divulge the source of the allegations at this instance.
- At this juncture we can only state that no allegations have been made against any Premier Soccer League Club(s), officials or any other person according to the preliminary report and information before us.
