adminThe association feels the matter has taken too long to finalise and is affecting the lives of players and threatening some clubs.
Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, today for a series of meetings with members of the Fifa match-fixing investigating team tomorrow and Sunday.
Zimbabwe was hit by a series of trips to Asia between 2007 and 2010 in which it is alleged matches involving them were thrown to benefit betting syndicates.
Coaches and players have since admitted that they were involved in the scam in which fingers were pointed at some former Zifa employees who include fired head of secretariat Henrietta Rushwaya.
Mashingaidze confirmed yesterday that he would be travelling to South Africa to meet Fifa representatives.
“I have been invited to South Africa to meet Fifa representatives working on match-fixing. As you might be aware there were illegal trips undertaken by the Warriors to Asia that are a subject of investigation. There was a lot of prejudice to the game and Zifa financially from them.
“South Africa were not left out too. There are matches that they are alleged to have been involved in that are being investigated. There was also our Warriors match against Japan that was played on South African soil which is subject of the investigations. I will be travelling there tomorrow,” said Mashingaidze.
Chris Eaton, who was the investigating officer for Fifa on the Zimbabwe case, leaves the organisation today, with Ralf Mutschke taking over.
“Obviously we would like an update on how far Fifa have gone and we will also fill them in with what we have done so far as Zifa. We are all eager for the quick resolution of this matter,” said Mashingaidze.
About 100 coaches, players, administrators and journalists were implemented in Asiagate.
Mashingaidze said Zifa were unhappy with Eaton meeting some implicated members without their knowledge in South Africa.
“We believe anything to do with Asiagate and Zimbabweans we should know everything about. Where you get some members of the old Zifa meeting Eaton in South Africa without our knowledge becomes a worrying factor. We have raised some of our fears with Fifa,” said the Zifa chief executive officer.
Recently some 30 players were pardoned for a passive role in Asiagate by the Independent Ethics Committee headed by Justice Ebrahim.
Online Reporter