adminH-Metro Reporter
IT’S being called the Greenwood Effect.
It relates to the challenges which emerge, when moral issues are taken into account, in cases when someone faces serious sexual allegations.
And, as in the case of English international footballer, Mason Greenwood, it doesn’t EVEN matter that one has had all the charges dropped.
The Manchester United star, 21, was suspended by United in January last year following a series of sexual allegations.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
However, earlier this month, all the charges against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service due to “the withdrawal of key witnesses” and the emergence of “new material” that means “there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Although Greenwood is no longer facing criminal charges, he remains suspended by his club, despite having two-and-a-half years left on his £100,000-a-week contract,
And, there is a split among his teammates as to whether he should be allowed to return to the club.
Some United sponsors also feel they don’t want their name associated with him with Nike dropping him as one of their athletes.
It’s the same dilemma which is confronting Ronald Ngwenya, a leading night club manager in Harare, who is on trial for allegedly raping a minor.
Ngwenya appeared in court last week, before magistrate Clever Tsikwa, where he was advised that trial will get underway on April 4.
The State moved the trial to April to ensure that the complainant, who is a 13-year-old schoolgirl, will not have her studies disrupted by the process.
She also happens to be Ngwenya’s niece.
While Ngwenya remains innocent, until proven guilty of the charges, which he denies, the Greenwood effect is clearly taking its toll on him.
His ties with his employers, at a trendy Harare night club, where he was the manager, have been cut and he hasn’t reported for duty since the scandal broke.
“There was concern as to the effect this whole story would have on the profile of the joint because people are generally sensitive and this separation appears to be working very well for the club itself,” sources said.
“You will appreciate that this industry is quite a tricky one and goodwill plays a huge part.
“There are some major clients there with kids who are girls and, even though at this stage you can’t nail him because he remains innocent, it’s clear they would have had concerns about his presence.”
Ngwenya was also a regular member of an upmarket health club, in the city, whose management also felt it wasn’t in the best interest, of either party, for him to keep working out there.
Online Reporter