admin“Mboma” Nyatanga, and his men used the parliamentary privilege accorded to them to make sensational claims that the current Zifa board was built on a foundation of corrupt activities that shaped the voting process for the leadership positions.
Nyatanga and his team said it was ironic that a Zifa board, which needed to be investigated for the manner it came into power, was now leading the crusade in the fight against corruption.
“Our football is in intensive care and it needs complete overhaul as a matter of urgency,” said Nyatanga.
“Corruption should not be tolerated at any level and instead it should be shunned because at the end of the day it is the supporters who suffer the most because we pay our hard earned cash to watch the games. There are administrators with fat pockets who are using their money to silence those who have football at heart, they are choking us if we try to say something because of their political muscle and money.”
Nyatanga said they wanted Zifa to speedily conclude their investigations into match-fixing, from Asiagate to the Centralgate, but his supporters’ club also wanted allegations raised against some Zifa board members to be investigated, too.
“The responsible parties who are investigating the Asiagate scandal should act fast and bring forth the outcome as soon as possible and thus putting structures into place,” said Nyatanga.
“Zifa should not been seen around liaising with the investigations committee as this will have implications on the committee’s work as this will influence the outcome of the process.”
Nyatanga said Asiagate was now being used as a whip to silence any opposition, to the way the Zifa board was managing the game, and a number of key people in
the game were being bullied.
Paddington Japajapa, who is the second vice-president of Znssa, said while Asiagate should be drawn to its logical and legal conclusion, it was important that it should not be used as a shield by Zifa board members against charges of incompetence or corruption raised against them.
Znssa board member, Eddie Chivero, claimed that he was removed from his post as a manager of the junior national teams after questioning how donated funds to fund a trip to Botswana ended up disappearing.
Other Znssa members who attended the hearing were Wellington Mupandare, Tendai Makoni and Fortune “Giant” Bgwoni.
The Footballers Association of Zimbabwe were the first to appear before the parliamentarians, preaching the same gospel that the Zifa board needed an overhaul to bring in fresh people who have football at heart.
Fuz secretary, Paul Gundani, said Zifa had been turned into a club for the rich and powerful and not for football administrators.
“Zifa is in a shambles, people there are not chosen on merit and they are not concerned about the game but instead about financial gain,” said Gundani.
“The current leaders need to be condemned and we propose former footballers and formers referees who have been there to be included in the Zifa set-up. Rich and educated people have made Zifa corrupt and people should be aware that it’s not the players who mastermind the corruption but these people. Players sometimes they don’t have option but listen to their bosses, they become victims of circumstances.
“In the Asiagate scandal, Zifa officials masterminded the whole thing and it now looks like the players were the ones who orchestrated everything.”
Gundani concluded that if football get the right leadership, companies were ready to chip in and support the national game.
Online Reporter
dyton mupawaenda