Fifa chief coming

chapter, in which the association launched investigations into allegations of match-fixing involving the Warriors during trips to Asia.
Fifa have saluted Zifa for their fight against match-fixing in the game and promised the local football leadership that they can always count on the Zurich-based organisation for help on that front.
Crucially, Fifa have also announced that they will let Zifa deal with the disciplinary aspects of their findings, which means there would not be automatic bans on Zimbabwean players, fingered in the scam, by the world football controlling body.
Up until now the chorus has centred on a possible mass ban of Zimbabwean players who took part in the matches by Fifa but the world football controlling body secretary general Jerome Valcke has since clarified that part in correspondence with Zifa president Cuthbert Dube.
But Fifa clarified that the ball was in Zifa’s court.
“We acknowledge receipt and thank your for your aforementioned correspondence (Post match-fixing and betting scandal disciplinary process), contents of which received our full attention,” wrote Valcke.
“Firstly we would like to thank you for your efforts and your very valuable cooperation in the fight against match fixing, which indeed requires the involvement of all football stakeholders.
“In continuation we wish to inform you that whereas our services will be happy to provide advice regarding the on-going disciplinary process, WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT WE WILL NOT BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE OVER THE FULL DISCIPLINARY PROCESS YOUR ORGANS INITIATED.
“However, and taking into consideration the elements mentioned in your correspondence, we would like to point out that the Fifa security department can assist you, if need be, in some aspect of the investigation.
“Finally we are pleased to inform you that we would be available to organise a meeting with you in order to discuss all the aforementioned issues related to the present matter.
“We thank you for your kind attention to the above and look forward to meeting you soon,” wrote Valcke.
The Herald can reveal today that Eaton is scheduled to arrive in Harare on June 30 in the company of Fifa investigations officer Terry Steans for a series of meetings to discuss the Asiagate scam with Zifa officials and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
They will also meet with other figures, whose contributions may be deemed by Zifa to be key to concluding the matter.
The Fifa head of security was also Malaysia last month on a similar mission and met with high-raking Football Association of Malaysia officials and the police in that country.
Fifa cleared the Football Association of Malaysia of any involvement in match-fixing even though it said there was evidence of the existence of match-fixing syndicates in that country.
In correspondence sent to Zifa, Stean also revealed that they would during their visit to Harare also hold talks with the Fifa referees’ development officer for Southern Africa Carlos Henriques.
“My name is Terry Stean, I am working with Chris Eaton, the Fifa head of security. He has asked me to write to you and inform you that Chris and I will visit Zimbabwe on around 30th of June to be confirmed as soon as the travel arrangements are in place.
“During our brief initial visit we would like to speak with people you feel we should meet and speak with.
“We would also like to speak with Carols Henriques to discuss their report. Fifa security is responsible for transportation to this meeting by land or air,” wrote Steans.
Gumede yesterday said his association welcomed the move by Fifa to send a “high-powered delegation to Zimbabwe.
He said he felt the initiative “vindicated” the efforts of his committee which had been viewed with suspicion and had, at worst, been dismissed as a waste of resources in some quarters.
“I think for us, as an association and for my committee in particular, it is a culmination of a process that was not easy.
“I think this will also vindicate us because there were some people who thought it was all just a Sunday picnic but this visit shows how serious Fifa are in wanting to deal with the matter.
“Of course we have completed our report and I must say the truth is now known and it is only the minor details of how much the big fish in the scam got that is still to be established.
“We have had problems with the likes of Jonathan Musavengana, Kudzi Shaba and Henrietta Rushwaya not being forthcoming with the truth like was done by such people like Ernest Sibanda, Joey Antipas and Mthulisi Maphosa who gave a true picture of what was happening,” Gumede said.
Gumede, however, stressed that it was important that the Asiagate matter was brought to finality to ensure that the nation turned its focus on the development of the national game, particularly the Warriors’ 2012 African Cup of Nations campaign.
“It’s important that the whole country focuses on our future and less on the negatives.
“It is also time that corporate partners came on board and support our football and support our various national teams as we try to cut a new and clean image for the game,” Gumede said.
Fifa are investigating claims that match-fixers influenced more than 300 matches on three continents.
There are also indications that the ZRP, who have also received Zifa’s report, could be availed with some resources to help them assist the association to tackle the outstanding issues related to the Asiagate probe.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter last month revealed that his football body would donate US$28 million to Interpol to fund a dedicated anti-corruption unit in Singapore to help fight match-fixing.