Mhofu faces ZIFA ban

gave him fame following recommendations by the Zifa probe to suspend the coaches who took part in all Asian tournaments.
Chidzambwa, now at South African Premiership side Black Leopards, took charge of the Warriors during their Merdeka Cup tournament in Malaysia in 2007.

The former Dynamos gaffer is the coach with the biggest profile among those who travelled with the national teams for on their different trips to such countries like Thailand, Syria, Jordan, Vietnam, China, Bulgaria and Yemen.

Although the Zifa probe team into allegations of match-fixing by the Warriors believe the local body should set up a disciplinary committee that will sanction those found guilty in the Asiagate scam in terms of the association’s and Fifa’s disciplinary codes, they also recommended that the “technical personnel who participated in the games in Asia be banned”.

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Chidzambwa has ironically has dragged Zifa to the High Court claiming US$65 000 in outstanding salaries from his last spell as Warriors coach between 2008 and 2009 during which he guided the national team to Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup glory two years ago.
He had also led the Warriors to their maiden appearance at the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 2004.

Chidzambwa, according to the committee, spurned invitations to make submissions on his role when he traveled with the Warriors to Malaysia as well as the national Under-20 team on their trip to China.
The investigating committee led by Zifa vice-president Ndumiso Gumede also recommended that an independent judicial commission be set up to deal with those culprits, who are outside the jurisdiction of the association.

Gumede made the recommendations in his committee’s final report on the Asiagate scam and suggested that law enforcement agents be asked to handle any cases of a criminal nature that may arise out of their findings.
The committee also felt that the Zifa second vice-president and former match official Kenny Marange and other referees implicated in the scam should have their names cleared by the disciplinary committee.
Zifa board members Solomon Mugavazi and Methembe Ndlovu have also been fingered in the report with the former having travelled with his club Monomotapa to Malaysia in July 2009 while the latter was national Under-20 team coach on their tours to China and Bulgaria.

Fifa and the Confederation of African Football have already indicated that they will lend their weight to Zifa over the sanctions they will implement with the world soccer governing body’s president Sepp Blatter suggesting life bans for the major culprits of match-fixing.
The Sport and Recreation Commission have also acknowledged receipt of the report and suggested to Zifa that they should be lenient with the players but come down hard on the coaches and administrators who would have been found guilty of match-fixing.

Gumede’s committee however, warned that it could take time for the local game to totally cleanse itself from the scourge of match-fixing.
“The rot which is in all the football structures was manifested during that period. All arms of the Zifa board will take a long time or will only start operating when all the rot has been cleaned.
“Not even one player or official ever came back home to report officially or launch officially a complaint to Zifa that they had been bribed or paid money to lose or give away a match.

“All the participants wanted to keep the match fixing a good close guarded secret and would protect each other. The 28 December 2009 Malaysia trip (Asiagate I) report and findings either buttressed in the Asiagate II or are cementing this particular report’s findings. Therefore one needs to read this report in conjunction with the submissions made in the 28 December 2009 report in order to fully comprehend.
“The committee then categorised three groups depending on the number of games, and trips one had participated in (See Box).

The committee also used the same criteria to categorise the coaches and officials who went on the trips but felt that their duty was only to establish what transpired and suggested that they be recused from the body that will deal with the varying sanctions to be imposed.

They came up with a cocktail of recommendations which include that:

A disciplinary committee to be established according to Fifa statutes that is Fifa disciplinary code used

Cases of criminal nature be handed over to the law enforcement arms of the country

Assets acquired using proceeds from the games to be confiscated to the benefit of football development programmes

Personnel that are not or where not under the jurisdiction of Zifa be dealt with according to Fifa disciplinary code Article 62

Those called to appear before the disciplinary committee and decided not to avail themselves then must be dealt with according to Fifa disciplinary code Art. 62

Members of the investigating committee be exempted from being members of the disciplinary committee

Disciplinary committee be composed of some remaining members of the Zifa board in exception of those implicated or fingered in the investigations and some selected Zifa assembly councilors

Mr. K Marange and other referees involved should have their names cleared by the disciplinary committee

Fifa disciplinary code Art 62 must be applied but Zifa should be allowed discretional sentences on some instances

All HODs who were in the know should face the ban and all technical teams personnel should be banned from football, i.e. those who participated from the Merdeka Cup, all Asian tournaments and Cecafa tournament.

Corporate governance must be applied and practiced

Each portfolio in the Zifa board must be allowed to function and be held accountable for the performance of its relevant area of operations

National teams must only participate in tournaments or matches where there are tangible developmental benefits i.e. if its juniors and where we have a real chance of excelling when it’s the senior teams

Adequate resources must first be sourced and availed so that there is proper preparations done, allowances are there and incentives are given on time and the teams are well kitted to fly the Zimbabwe flag

All national team matches must be sanctioned by the board member competitions so that there is accountability to the whole process. Shortcuts must not be entertained

All those participated in these games, actively or passively, did not inform Zifa officially of the evils that were happening i.e. being paid to lose and therefore must be sanctioned.

Zifa also appear to be taking a cue from Fifa’s resolve to fight corruption and match fixing in the game.
Only on Sunday, Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim was charged in court over his alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal that has rocked Turkish football.
Yildirim has been jailed pending his trial along with 25 other suspects, including two other Fenerbahce executives. The Istanbul-based club won the league championship last season, but reports suggest they could be stripped of the title or even relegated to the second tier.
According to The Associated Press, the Turkish Football Federation has claimed that it will decide on any sanctions by this Friday, when the national body will have to inform Uefa of which teams will participate in European competitions next season.
The suspects are accused of manipulating games last season, when Fenerbahce went on an extraordinary late-season run to snatch the title on goal difference ahead of Trabzonspor.
A total of 19 first and second division games are under investigation, according to police, but Yildirim has dismissed the claims of corruption. The 60-year-old Fenerbahce chief received treatment in hospital for a heart problem last week.

Passive Participants – Maximum Appearance of two matches
Name Games

Ovidy Karuru 2;Pride Tafirenyika 2; Cuthbert Malajila 2; Clemence Matawu 2; David Kutyauripo 2; Zhaimu Jambo 2; Washington Arubi 2; Charles Chiutsa 1; Zephania Ngodzo 2; Ronald Sengu 1; Evans Chikaikwai 2; Daniel Vheremu 2; Gilbert Mushangazhike 1; Augustine Mbara 2; Kennedy Chirwa 2; Brian Katsuruware 2; Tendai Ramthokwane 2; Rex Mabeza 2; Martin Vengesai 2; Hardlife Zvirekwi 2;
Milton Ncube 2; Cliff Sekete 2; Hardlife Mafundi 2; Knowledge Machona 2; Khama Billiat 2; Proud Zireni 2; Danisa Phiri 2; Khumbulani Banda 2; Nyasha Mukumbi 2; Gilbert Mapemba 2; Thabani Goredema 2; Asani Nhongo 1; Christopher Samakweri 2; Tawanda Muparati 2; Thabani Masuku 2; Willard Katsande 1; Marshal Matenda 1; Last Chibwiro 1; Max Nyamupanedengu 1; Guthrie Zhokinyi 1; George Magariro 1; Arthur Mafusire 1; Carrington Gomba 1; Wonder Sithole 1; Thabani Kamusoko 1; Marvel Samaneka 1; Edmore Chitato 1; Tawanda Nyamandwe 1; Clive Kawinga 1; Leonard Tsipa 1; Tawanda Amos Mandicha 1;

Elvis Meleka 4; Tichaona Ngodzo 3; Nicholas Arifandika 3; Oscar Machapa 3; Milton Makopa 3;

Hyperactive Participants – Above Four Matches
Tsungai Mudzamiri 6; Edward Tembo 5; Menard Mupera 7; Thomas Sweswe 15; Lionel Mtizwa 13; Danisa Phiri 8; Mtshumayeli Moyo 13; Johannes Ngodzo (capt) 9; Ali Sadiki 5; Beaven Chikaka 5; Eusebio Manuwere 10; Philip Marufu 6; Edmore Sibanda 6; Justice Majabvi 8; Edmore (Edward) Sadomba 7; Kingstone Nkhatha 7; Washington Pakamisa 7; Tafadzwa Dube 5; Energy Murambadoro 6; Costa Nhaoinesu 6
Method Mwanjali 7; Gilbert Banda 9; Richard Mteki 7; Willard Manyatera 5;

Officials Categorisation Passive
Participants (Maximun One Match)
Valinhos 1; Solomon Makuvaro 1; Cryril Mukweva 1; Bekhithemba Ndlovu 1; Joey Antipas 1; Edward Chagonda 1; Lloyd Maungwa 1; Nathan Makanza 1; Solomon Mugavazi 1;

Active (Maximum Of Two Matches)
Norman Mapeza 2; Methembe Ndlovu 2; Modecai Sachikonye 2;

Hyperactive
Sunday Chidzambwa 7; Ernest Sibanda 5; Godfrey Japajapa 7; Robson Sharuko 14; Luke Masomere 6