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Sikhumbuzo Moyo
HARARE City chairman Leslie Gwindi and Zifa technical director Nelson Matongorere will know their fate next week on Friday when the Zifa disciplinary committee hands down judgment in their cases. This was confirmed by the Zifa legal advisor Ralph Maganga yesterday.
“Judgment has been set for 20 December, the cases will be brought to finality then,” said Maganga.
Gwindi faced charges of bringing the game of football into disrepute following subversive comments which he allegedly made at the Bulawayo Press Club early this year while Matongorere was charged with misconduct.
The fireband administrator Gwindi, who challenged Cuthbert Dube for the Zifa presidency and is believed to be keen on running for the same post in next year’s elections, faced charges of contravening Section 4.1, 4.2(f) and 4.3 of the Zifa rules and regulations 1996 which deals with “misconduct, betting, bribery, bad language and conduct likely to bring the game of football into disrepute”.
He called in former Zifa chairmen, Vincent Pamire and Leo Mugabe as his witnesses during the trial while his third and final witness, a senior Delta Beverages official, did not come for the hearing.
According to the charge sheet, on the 8th of March 2013 at the Bulawayo Press Club meeting at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel, Gwindi unlawfully and with intent to damage the reputation of the Zimbabwe Football Association board in particular and Zimbabwe football in general, committed an act of misconduct likely to bring the game into disrepute by using bad language and insulting the Premier Soccer League sponsors Delta Beverages (Castle Lager brand), the Zimbabwe Football Association board, the Zimbabwe National Senior Team coach and the Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture.
During the said Press Club meeting, Gwindi blasted the PSL sponsorship saying it was a pittance while also attacking the Zifa leadership for their lack of vision.
Allegations against Matongorere were that he overstepped his authority when he voted for the World Player of the Year as well as the Coach of the Year.
He also stands accused of having a hand in the disappearance of Caf C licence certificates last year.
Matongorere’s name appeared on the Fifa list of panellists as the Warriors captain who voted for Real Madrid and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Gerard Pique of Barcelona and Spain and the eventual winner, Barcelona and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. For the coach of the Year, he voted for Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson.
The ballot papers are said to have had Matongorere’s signature and also his name appeared on the Fifa list of panellists.
Only football commentator Charles Mabika confirmed casting the ballot on behalf of Zimbabwean journalists.
Fifa sends the ballot papers to the national association which then downloads them. They are then given to the national team coach and captain to fill out before being returned to Fifa.
Zifa head of secretariat Jonathan Mashingaidze was out of office at the time the ballot papers were received.
Online Reporter