PSL clubs fear player loss over Asiagate

The four clubs are Dynamos, FC Platinum, Caps United and Chicken Inn who have a combined total of 33 players.
That fear has increased calls for either Zifa or the Ethics Committee to also investigate the role played by some influential player-agents in the selection of national team players for those trips.
It is believed that some players got into the national team as a result of some powerful agents who worked hand in gloves with the coaches so that those players on their stable would get more national team caps and enhance their chances of getting lucrative contracts outside the country.
“They deserve to be investigated, the players must tell the Ethics Committee the truth whether their call-ups were engineered by agents or executives of some of the clubs or any individual,” said a prominent soccer administrator yesterday who chose to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
If the committee also puts those agents on the investigation radar, more suspensions might occur.
Maxwell Mironga, the Caps United chief executive officer, said his club will be left with no option but to fall back on their juniors, an unpalatable situation for them.
“While it is our hope that it will not get to that, as a club we will be left with no option but to call upon our juniors. We sincerely hope that the nation will be lenient on these boys as we cannot have a pool of over 98 unemployed players, a majority of whom were actually victims of unethical player-agents and administrators,” said Mironga.
Makepekepe have 10 players who include Pride Tafirenyika, Nyasha Mukumbi, Edmore Sibanda and Washington Pakamisa.
DeMbare are understood to have called a meeting for today where the issue has been put on the agenda.
Club chairman Kenny Mubaiwa said the issue would not be the main one on the agenda of the day but would definitely be discussed.
“Our club will collapse if those players are suspended. It will be a catastrophe for us and we are meeting tomorrow to discuss a lot of things including this pending frightening reality,” said the Dynamos boss whose club has 10 players on the list.
Some of the key DeMbare players who face an uncertain future include reigning Soccer Star of the Year Washington Arubi, Guthrie Zhokinyi, George Magariro, David Kutyauripo and Tawanda Muparati, all key members of the Glamour Boys setup.
FC Platinum could not be reached for comment.
Mironga’s reconciliation sentiments were echoed by Chicken Inn secretary Tawengwa Hara who nevertheless said his club will remain guided by whatever the Ethics Committee would say.
“We will stand guided by that committee but what we will push for as a club is that the local registration window be extended by a few weeks so that we get a chance of replacing the suspended players in the event that they are indeed punished harshly,” said Hara.
The transfer window closes on 31 March but Zifa has the prerogative of extending it.
Zifa recently suspended some players and officials from national team duties but until the suspensions are endorsed by the Ethics Committee led by retired judge, Justice Ebrahim, the players will still continue playing for their individual clubs.
List of suspended players by club
Dynamos: David Kutyauripo, Augustine Mbara, Martin Vengesayi, Tawanda Muparati, Max Nyamupanedengu, Guthrie Zhokinyi, George Magariro, Wonder Sithole, Washington Arubi, Milton Makopa.
FC Platinum: Zephaniah Ngodzo, Daniel Vheremu, Hardlife Mavundi, Thabani Kamusoko, Ali Sadiki, Tafadzwa Dube, Tsungai Mudzamiri, Gilbert Banda, Khumbulani Banda, Cliff Sekete.
Caps United: Pride Tafirenyika, Nyasha Mukumbi, Christopher Samakweri, Thabani Masuku, Charles Chiutsa, Marvel Samaneka, Clive Kawinga, Ronald Sengu, Edmore Sibanda.
Chicken Inn: Evans Chikwaikwai, Thabani Goredema, Danny Phiri.