Zifa move paints wrong picture: Sharif Mussa

post alongside virtually all members of the technical staff following a Zifa board meeting in Harare on Tuesday.
Warriors’ coach Norman Mapeza and his assistant, Joey Antipas, were asked to stand aside from the Nations Cup qualifier against Burundi until they clear their names following their implication in the Asiagate scandal.
Mussa said the blanket ousting of all the technical members gave an impression that they were all under investigations.
The Harare business is not being investigated, as he did not feature in any of the games under review.
“An impression has been created that I was involved in any of these games and that is why I was pushed out of the national team and that is a wrong impression,” said Mussa.
“It’s unfortunate that Zifa did not explain their decision and left the media and the readers to make their stories that create the wrong impression.
“My family has been worried since the stories first appeared and my business colleagues have been asking me what is going on.
“I am not worried about being removed from the Warriors because Zifa are the ones who make the changes but I feel there was need to clear the air so that people don’t end up with their reputations being questioned.”
Mussa said his family had been pushing him for some time now to leave the national team and concentrate on his business interests but his love for the Warriors and the country kept him in the structures.
“It’s about love and I was happy to work for my country and my national team and that is why I was there even when my family felt that I should leave and concentrate on my business,” said Mussa.
“I hope Zifa will make a public statement and make it clear that some of us were not swept away by the Asiagate tide because we were not implicated in that.
Meanwhile, Hwange coach Tennant Chilumba has called on football stakeholders to support the Under-23 coach Peter Ndlovu who will be taking up his first coaching post.
“I think the appointments are okay but we should be careful not to try and honour someone because of their achievements as a player.
“The Under-23 team is a feeder to the national team and requires someone with vast knowledge.
“I have no problem with Peter but he now needs a lot of support so that he will do the job and deliver. He needs advice and he and Rahman should speak one language because the players Peter coaches will be graduating to the senior team.
“I also think Rahman can do the job with support from everyone. People should not fight that this group is from Harare or Bulawayo. There shouldn’t be infighting and everyone should support the appointments.
“Even Rahman himself should not be big headed but should take advice from the Premiership coaches. I have no problem with him and every time we meet we talk about football.
“He is driving the whole country and should have a vision. I was disappointed by Zimbabwe’s failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. I believe they are a big country with a good Premiership league and deserve to play at the Nations Cup,” said Chilumba.
Former Highlanders coach Mkhupali “Mr Copper” Masuku also endorsed the Zifa appointments and said it would be a challenge for Ndlovu but he would learn from the experience.
“I think it is good for Peter to start somewhere. It is going to be a bit of a challenge for him but he has to start from somewhere and grow from there.
“I think, as for the head coach, if it is interim it is okay. They have gone for the best. He is one of the best coaches around as well as David Mandigora. He did well for DeMbare and also did well in Mozambique.
“As for Jairosi Tapela it is good for him to finally get recognition as his track record speaks for itself,” said Masuku.
Former Warriors assistant coach Moses “Bambo” Chunga said he would not comment lest his views are misconstrued.