adminThis was after the family had threatened to take the matter to the courts to clear the boy and the family name of age-cheating allegations.
Brandon was two weeks ago thrown out of the camp after results from a magnetic resonance imaging scan said he could not be under 17. That meant he was ineligible to play for the juniors’ team which drew 2-2 with Mozambique at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on 8 September.
Zifa board member responsible for development and national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed yesterday that they had agreed to a third test. He said this would help them absolve their coaches and medical team of doctoring results to accommodate some obviously older players.
“The way to go is to reach a situation where we are all happy with the results. We have seen the results of the tests we conducted as Zifa, I have just been apprised of the process and I believe in it.
“But the idea is to absolve the coaches and the player’s family of any suspicions of doctoring the results, we want all parties happy so a third scan will be done and we would like the family and our own people to be involved,” said Moyo.
Moyo said one of the national team doctors, Edward Chagonda, told him that the machine could also err.
He ruled out that the coaches could have swapped Brandon’s results for another player whom they felt could be key in the team.
“Dr Chagonda said there is a chance of results being wrong. Each player went for the test with his passport and was immediately told the results after the MRI scan,” said Moyo.
But contrary to Moyo’s assertion that players were told of their results immediately after the tests, it emerged yesterday that the coaches announced the names of the four players while in the bus as the team was on its way to a training session.
Brandon after failing the test, went for a second one in Bulawayo with a renowned imaging company and the results supported family, schools, hospital and Zifa Bulawayo Province’s position that he was born on 26 March 1996. That makes him eligible to play for the national Under-17 soccer team.
A visit to Mpilo Hospital by Chronicle last week revealed that he was born on 26 March 1996, evidence corroborated by his school, Mzilikazi Primary, Zifa and his junior coach Dumaza Dube who has a zero tolerance for age-cheating and his advocacy has seen Bulawayo Province almost win the war.
Brandon’s father had yesterday threatened to take the matter up with the courts.
“I want justice for my son, the family and football. I am his father and I have no doubt about his birthday. So many people know him that he is not an age-cheat so Zifa have to clear him.
“They have been quiet all along and I am losing my patience. My battle is not to have him in the national team but that he may lead a life with a clean conscience which is what we expect of everyone involved with football. We are prepared for a third test in the presence of Zifa and ourselves,” said Waison Mpala, father of the Eddie Mukahanana Academy player.
Mpala welcomed the news last night.
He said his fight was not to have his son in the national team against odds but for justice and for generations to follow for Zifa to ensure the exercise is done in a professional manner with no loopholes at all.
Brandon was one of four players who were told in camp that they were too old.
The case left many believing that Brandon’s results could have been swapped.
About eight years ago, Guide Goddard’s passport went missing on the eve of departure to a continental Under-17 soccer tournament.
The player travelled using an emergency travel document and could not be used in Gambia and surprisingly soon after the tournament Goddard’s passport resurfaced.
Selling players has become big business for some agents, coaches and club managers who want to put in little and reap a lot and national team caps are now gold.
Brandon might have become a victim of the fact that he comes from a lightweight club, EM Academy of Nguboyenja.
Online Reporter