Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
DOMESTIC topflight football action returned to normalcy at the weekend when referees officiated in the two Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals, as the suspended Zifa board members appear to be slowly losing their grip on power.
The sanctioned board members last week threw football into chaos when they withdrew referees from officiating in Castle Lager Premier Soccer League mid-week matches in protest over their suspension by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
The SRC strongly condemned the behaviour of the suspended board members for displaying “thuggish” behaviour to sabotage games out of “unbelievable selfishness” and urged the Zifa secretariat to continue discharging duties of the association for football to continue running smoothly.
The referees’ desk appointed officials to handle Ngezi Platinum Stars’ 1-0 win over Cranbourne Bullets on Saturday as well as FC Platinum’s 1-0 victory against Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
In a letter to affiliates, Zifa lawyer Chenaimoyo Gumiro believes the SRC erred by dissolving the association’s board.
“The SRC board called for a meeting between the Zifa board and the SRC on 16 November 2021. At the meeting the SRC chairman announced the suspension of the entire Zifa executive committee with immediate effect.
Subsequently the SRC served Zifa with the suspension letter which indicated that the executive committee was suspended for conducting itself in a matter contrary to national interests for failure to detail all funds it received from Government and from the public during the period 16 December 2018 to 30 June (2019),” Gumiro said.
He said the SRC wanted Zifa to detail all funds disbursed to board members and purpose for the disbursement during the same period, provide information regarding the source of income for the charter plane to Cairo and provide information regarding cost of the charter plane and total costs of accommodation paid by Zifa for the Afcon.
“We are of the firm belief that the action by SRC is unlawful as due process was not followed and that it constitutes external interference in the administration of Zifa.
As such, the executive committee has since advised Fifa of the development and is now awaiting directive from the international governing body. We therefore urge all members and councillors to remain calm and vigilant as we sail through these turbulent times,” he wrote to Zifa affiliates.
He thanked the affiliates for their support, adding that they will update members once Fifa responds.
Gumiro threatened to deal with journalists he accused of spreading falsehoods regarding Zifa board members’ suspension.
“We therefore wish to advise that we have noted with concern various media statements peddling falsehoods about the situation pervading. Most of these falsehoods are emanating from well-known journalists previously found guilty for match fixing and unscrupulous betting activities. we shall attend to these falsehoods and deal with the bearer of such with the contempt they deserve,” Gumiro said. — @ZililoR
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