adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
THE newly-established Zifa Disciplinary Committee is expected to get down to work next Monday when they hear the case of the association’s technical director Nelson Matongorere for his involvement in the Ballon d’ Or voting saga. Matongorere. who was suspended from football activities early this month, is facing serious charges of misconduct and insubordination arising from his suspicious role in the voting for the Fifa Ballon d’ Or last year.
Zifa unveiled a new Disciplinary Committee which they hope will clear the backlog of cases and ensure adherence to the game’s statutes by its various members.
The five-man committee includes former Fifa, Caf and Zifa panel referee Wilfred Mukuna, long-serving member of football’s judicial bodies and former magistrate Andrew Msengezi and lawyers Musekiwa Mbanje, Wilbert Mandinde and Watson Muchengeti.
The Disciplinary Committee, which is one of three judicial bodies under Zifa with the others being the Appeals Committee and the Ethics committee, is also expected to arraign Harare City chairman Lesley Gwindi who is being charged for his statements at a press club earlier this year in Bulawayo.
There are also other pending cases that include the Asiagate hearings for former Zifa president Wellington Nyatanga, former referees Kenny Marange and Christopher Manuel Manuel that have been referred to the disciplinary committee for finalisation by the Ethics Committee.
Zifa legal advisor, Ralph Maganga, yesterday said they are hoping that new disciplinary committee will be able to clear the backlog soon.
“I think by end of next month they should have made great strides because to me, the members of this committee have shown that they are quite serious and eager to begin work.
“The good thing is that even if they cannot be all present at once, a quorum of three would be enough to carry on the proceedings. So we just hope everything will be smooth,” said Maganga.
Matongorere’s case will be the first to be heard by the committee.
The Zifa technical director is alleged to have brought the game into disrepute when he participated in the voting for the Fifa Ballon d’Or awards on behalf of coach Rahman Gumbo, captain Esrom Nyandoro and ordering Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza to cast nominations on behalf of the team captain Onai Chingawo.
The Ballon d’Or is voted for by the national team coaches for the senior men and women football teams and the captains of both teams.
Journalists also have one representative vote.
But according to Fifa’s official voting list, Matongorere voted as Zimbabwe captain and chose Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Gerard Pique of Barcelona and Messi in that order.
Former Zimbabwe coach Rahman Gumbo had Iniesta, Messi and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie while journalist Charles Mabika voted for Ronaldo, Messi and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
However, Matongorere has since denied the charges and claimed that Fifa could have made a mistake.
The Disciplinary Committee is also hoping to call Harare City chairman Gwindi later this month to answer allegations of misconduct for his alleged attack on Zifa president Cuthbert Dube, Premier Soccer League sponsors Delta Beverages and ridiculing the appointment of former Warriors interim coach Klaus Dieter Pagels.
Online Reporter