NAUGHTY SCHOOL BOYS: Herentals offered Chiefs US$3,5k to lose match

Fungai Muderere

HERENTALS Football Club reportedly offered US$3 500 to the Bulawayo Chiefs camp in an effort to manipulate their last game of season and survive the dreaded chop.

According to well-placed sources, after hearing about the carrot was dangled by the Innocent Benza-led club, the powers that be at Amakhosi Amahle reportedly instructed that their players’ mobile phones be confiscated 24 hours before the match that was played on 14 December at Luveve Stadium.

The match ended 1-0 in favour of the students, but Chiefs managed to survive the chop.

Contacted for a comment Twitter Kings’ communications officer Thulani “Javas” Sibanda could not comment on an underhand issue that is being handled by the Premier Soccer League.

“We can’t comment on an allegation is being dealt with by PSL,” said Sibanda.

Chiefs reportedly notified the PSL about Herentals’ alleged underhand dealings, claiming that an official from the Students (name withheld) and another from a Bulawayo-based club (name withheld) first made overtures to “bribe” coach Thulani Sibanda before turning to the players after the Chiefs gaffer dismissed their approaches.

PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele confirmed to our sister paper The Chronicle that Chiefs raised dust on Herentals, who also have a pending case for allegedly “buying” the 3-0 win against Black Rhinos in October.

“As for the outcome of the Herentals disciplinary hearing for the alleged match manipulation against Black Rhinos, we are still waiting for the disciplinary committee to deliver its verdict. It’s also true that investigations are ongoing after Bulawayo Chiefs raised match-fixing allegations against Herentals after the final match of the season. The league will release a statement soon after the holidays,” said Ndebele.

Herentals were charged alongside their official Oliver Chirenga, who allegedly “masterminded” the plan to manipulate the result against Rhinos in their quest to survive relegation.

PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele told Chronicle that a verdict will be passed after the holidays.

“It’s also true that investigations are ongoing after Bulawayo Chiefs raised match-fixing allegations against Herentals after the final match of the season. The league will release a statement soon after the holidays,” added the PSL supremo.

If found guilty in any of the two cases, Herentals are likely to be docked points which will leave them in the relegation zone.