adminNcube said administrators had to desist from all forms of corruption.
“Football administrators must be men and women of high integrity who must shun all forms of corruption, in particular, be free from match-fixing,” he said, in apparent reference to the Asiagate and Centralgate scandals that have of late gripped the nation.
Allegations of match-fixing have rocked the football fraternity with top soccer administrators in the country being implicated.
A three-member committee has since been set up by Zifa to investigate the match-fixing allegations.
Former referees, Wilfred Mukuna and Farai Esther Mbaiwa and police officer Brighton Mudzamiri were tasked to investigate the allegations.
Ncube said if the sport was not properly administered, soccer will continue losing sponsors as the corporate world does not want to be associated with maladministration and corruption.
“If it is not properly administered at Zifa, PSL or at club level football is disreputable. The casualty in this instance is the sponsor and in the end they flee. That is why most of the time you hear them say if you put your house in order we will come in,” he said.
Ncube said when there are no sponsors football suffers. He also called on the corporate world to take their time in analysing the situation before pulling out.
“Sponsors need not be faint-hearted and run at the slightest problem. You are the ones that have the influence over sport. Use that influence to correct the wrongs,” he said.
The Premier Soccer League is sponsored by Castle Lager after they returned to the sport following a couple of years’ abscence.
Last year the league did not have a sponsor and with the match-fixing allegations there are fears that they could pull out again.
The awards, night which were sponsored by BancABC, Bakers Inn and Buscod Supermarket saw Trevor Ndlovu being presented with the Junior Player of the Year Award.
Mapuranga beat Arial Sibanda and Gilbert Banda for the Most Consistent Player prize while Knox Mutizwa was chosen ahead of Warren Dube and Mgcini Sibanda for the Most Promising Player.
In the Most Improved Player category Honest Moyo pipped Tendai Ndlovu and Lawson Nkomo to land the prize.
Arial Sibanda was the most disciplined player this year beating nominees Vincent Nzombe and Honest Moyo while Eric Mudzingwa was the Players’ Player.
Graham Ncube’s eight goals won him the Top Goalscorers award.
The outgoing Highlanders captain Banda received the Captain’s award for leading the players throughout the season.
Banda is headed for FC Platinum.
Online Reporter