No amnesty for clubs

conforming to a set of expectations which promote the sport’s good governance.
“We will not have clubs signing new players. The window long closed and we as Zifa will not interfere with that,” said Gumede. He said the national association had already advised clubs and sponsors accordingly.
“This is a process which started two years ago, some day the findings were going to come out. Now that they are out we believe clubs came up with their own steps to ensure they would not be affected as it has been going on for a while. “We even advised spon­sors about this, so there is nothing new,” said Gumede.
Gumede shot down criticism from certain quarters that the announce­ment of verdicts for the Asiagate scan­dal had to do with the championship race.
He described it as unfair for fans to associate the report with two people, as they were not involved in the organising of the trips or selection of players who travelled.
“This is a board decision. I am the spokesperson for the board. It is not fair for me to be blamed or somebody else we are simply implementing what was resolved after the ethics commit­tee brought out its findings,” said Gumede. Zifa board member (compe­titions) Benedict Moyo and Gumede have bore the brunt of the criticism after the  publication of the list of the names of those who were banned for life. Some critics believe that Dynamos who have several players involved and the highest number of former stars who travelled to Asia, would be affected in the champi­onship race.
“Honestly this thing has been going on for too long, not that anybody cared who would be in the champi­onship race, we had to conclude the investigations and the good thing is that it was an independent committee after all,” said Gumede.
He said as Zifa the release of the report had presented them with a Catch22 situation. The reason why they will be releasing names in batches is that they would like to sift through the recommendations of the Justice Ebrahim Committee.
“It is not that we fear that some teams would be affected if we make the announcements once, we have to carefully sift through the submissions and the position taken by the ethics committee.
We have to also look at the mitiga­tory circumstance in each case before we announce. Where people refused to come and be interviewed we have not hesitated to give the worst treat­ment,” said the veteran administrator.
Dynamos already have defender Guthrie Zhokinyi banished for life while they might also have the like of striker Martin Vengesayi, Cliff Sekete, George Magariro, Milton Makopa banned while David Kutyauripo was exonerated.
Zvishavane outfit FC Platinum could lose Zephaniah Ngodzo, Khum­bulani Banda, Qadr Amin, Hardlife Mavundi, Daniel Vheremu, Ali Sadiki, Thabani Kamusoko, Tafadzwa Dube and Tsungai Mudzamiri.
Their neighbours Shabanie Mine might also find themsleves without their head coach Luke Masomere who travelled on some of the illicit trips and confirmed that the matches were fixed. Highlanders might have to do without Beavan Chikaka and Milton Ncube while Chicken Inn have Tha­bani Goredema, Evans Chikwaikwai and Danny Phiri on the list.
Hardlife Zvirekwi, Nqobile Mpala, Charles Chiutsa and Asani Nhongo, are the CAPS United players on the list. Gumede said with teams allowed to register up to 30 players, they should be able to field strong teams to aid their championship chase and rel­egation fights.