adminFootball Echoes
ESTEEMED followers of the game of football, thank you for finding time for interaction. When news broke that a match-fixing racket, involving individuals who had served Zifa in the past and presently had been busted, it created anxiety among many a local football faithful.Allegations that the rogue elements were even targeting our national team’s upcoming CAF 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Swaziland got many fretting; anxious even, if the Easter holidays double header fixture’s outcome would not be a premeditated manipulation decided or settled off the field of play.
But the reassurance from Zifa president, Philip Chiyangwa and Sports and Recreation Minister, Makhosini Hlongwane that the ties are safe from being fixed somewhat calmed nerves down among the fans and we now have something to look forward to.
Also, that the suspected match-fixers’ cover and their conspiracy has been blown, the matches may now be played fairly since the public gaze will be firmly fixed on those games to see if there is any suspicious play.
Descend heavily on culprits
Another match-fixing scandal was the last thing Zimbabwean football would have imagined, given how the Asiagate disgrace, inconclusive at some point, once blighted our game.
That the sad chapter was finally closed due to its indecisive nature and had some of the alleged perpetrators pardoned sees another similar scam being unearthed is regrettable and should be rebuked with the outright condemnation it deserves.
It is a good and encouraging thing that investigations into the allegations are continuing and at their completion, everyone found guilty of complicity should face the music.
This is their own bed they made and they should lie in it!
Pursuant to restoring the fans’ faith in the game, the culprits must face stiffer penalties for violating the spirit of fair play.
Even blacklisting and excommunicating them from participating in any football-related activities in any capacity should be meted out on the instigators of match-fixing.
Heavy custodial sentences would also be a good deterrent measure to put off would-be offenders.
Match-fixing is a serious cancerous threat to the game the world over and should be nipped in the bud.
It is an unfair practice that ridicules others’ hard work through preparations and committed effort on the field by influencing the games’ outcomes without breaking any sweat.
It is imperative that the relevant authorities governing the game weed out these bad influences infiltrating football and save the dignity and reputation of the world’s most loved and followed sport.
They must, therefore, descend heavily on the culprits, bring them to book and rescue the game.
Warriors must live up to tag
While the allegations that the busted ring of match-fixers targeted the Warriors’ back-to-back showdown against Sihlangu – since the news was broke during the build-up to the fixture – might have loomed large over our preparations, we must, however, keep concentrating on doing a good job that will help our qualification cause.
The Warriors should not lose focus of the task at hand; that is, tackling the Swaziland double hurdle and secure wins so as to stay top of Group L for the remainder of the qualifiers.
Coach, Callisto Pasuwa has to psyche up his charges and keep them in the right frame of mind so they deliver.
Players called up will have to give their best in this important national cause and win against Sihlangu so as to shame the detractors who might have tried to throw our campaign off the rails.
In spite of that match-fixing distraction allegedly targeting the ties, the Warriors have to rise to the occasion, play true to their moniker and keep the dream of qualifying alive.
This is one storm we have to weather since we still have everything to play for. Let’s show the world that they don’t call us the Warriors for nothing.
At this juncture, Yours Truly, would like to borrow from Liverpool’s edifying club anthem and exhort our dearly loved Warriors: “Walk On, Dream On. . .You’ll Never Walk Alone”!
Go for goals Warriors, Go!
Gunners wobble on
From a title-chasing and a table-topping team, Arsenal appear to be finding the going tough in the Barclays English Premier League at the moment as the race meanders towards the business end, with a little over half-a-dozen games to go.
Knocked out of the FA Cup and facing a near-impossible mission against a sleek Barcelona in the Champions League, the Gunners have found themselves tumbling and have had something of a miserable run, during which they have lost four times, drawn twice and won only once in their last seven games across all competitions (before Wednesday’s trip to the Camp Nou).
In that period, they have conceded 11 times, scored 10 and kept only two clean sheets.
To highlight their poor form, this is the first time since 2002 that Arsenal have lost three consecutive games at home (0-2 Barcelona, 1-2 Swansea, 1-2 Watford).
Zlatan’s blitzkrieg
Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped his side to winning their fourth successive Ligue 1 title in style by ramming in four goals as the French champions-elect breezed 9-0 past hapless basement club Troyes last weekend to continue the season in a flourish with an unassailable 25 points and eight games to spare.
The latest championship triumph comes as another glorious chapter in the maverick ponytailed Swedish star’s career, who is now in his 15th season as a professional, has played for six different clubs and won 13 league titles.
Feedback:
Dynamos deserve it. How can they hire someone from Portugal, yet we have a lot of qualified coaches locally? Mazvokuda mavanga evora!
Coz we had a problem at national level with that Brazilian coach (Valinhos), Highlanders also had similar problems with that Egyptian coach (Mohamed Fathi).
We as a nation hatizi kudzidza, (we are) always (making) same mistakes. – 0772 943 110
People should not rush to judge Paulo Jorge (Silva). Shame on you guys coz you support these match fixers. To hell with these players, cartels who fight a coach coz a certain (player) in his match-fixing plans is not playing. – 0772 810 490
It’s Game On, Play On!
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Online Reporter