adminMidlands Sports Correspondent
ZIFA president Cuthbert Dube has approached the newly created Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture to lobby parliament to enact laws which criminalise match-fixing and illegal betting. Dube revealed this in Gweru on Saturday at the Zifa Midlands awards presentation ceremony where Gweru City and Gokwe-based Chomumvuri Pirates were crowned the province’s Division 2 A and Division 2B champions respectively. The two teams earned automatic slots in the Zifa Central Soccer League.
“As you all know that football is a global phenomenon and as Zimbabwe we shall continue to submit ourselves to the game’s global dictates. We also told the ministry (of Sport, Arts and Culture) that we would like legislation like an Act of Parliament or a statutory instrument that touches on match-fixing or illegal betting so that offenders can be prosecuted.
“We were surprised that such a law is not there but what is encouraging is that authorities have agreed to put it in place. They have also agreed that they will have a legal director to deal with legal matters in the ministry,” he said.
In recent years local football has been rocked by match-fixing scandals with the biggest being Asiagate which saw the senior national team playing matches organised by match-fixing syndicates from Asia.
The scandal sucked in football administrators, coaches, players as well as journalists.
Turning to the financial woes bedevilling the football governing body, the Zifa president said the association has approached the Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Dr Douglas Mombeshora to be allocated a farm in each of the country’s 10 provinces so that the cash-strapped football governing body can embark on income generating projects as opposed to relying on football handouts for its sustenance.
The Zifa debt has ballooned to $4 million and what is disturbing is that the corporate world seems reluctant to assist largely because the association’s image has been tainted over the years.
Meanwhile, Chrome Stars coach, Gatsi Mukombwe has announced that he will leave the Kwekwe-based outfit at the end of the season. He said he was taking a break from football.
Mukombwe who is set to guide Stars to a third place finish did not give reasons for his departure.
“I am happy to have finished third this season with the team but I no longer have plans with the team as I am set to leave at the end of the year. I just want to take a break from football and concentrate on something else,” he said.
The seasoned gaffer joined Chrome Stars from Silo United in 2011 when he guided the side to a top eight finish before finishing fifth last season.
Chrome Stars are now assured of finishing on third position as they have so far amassed 60 points with a game to go with Silo United a distant fourth with 54 points which makes their remaining match academic.
Stars’ fine run this season continued when they massacred relegation threatened Jessie Mine 6-0 at their backyard at the weekend.
Results
Tongogara 0, Hwahwa 3; Kwekwe Pirates 0, MSU 3; Chapungu 3, Tripple B Academy 0; Jessie Mine 0, Chrome Stars 6; Town United 3, Gaths Mine 0; NM Academy 1, Silo United 2; FC Platinum Under-19 3, Gwanda Ramblers 0; Vumbachikwe 1, Hardbody 1
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter