adminCup finals.
The way Zifa handled the appointment of the national coach has been one of the talking points and the association, to its credit, has conceded that it played a part in the team’s failure.
Now, Zifa want the Warriors to qualify for the next Nations Cup finals, without fail, and that is why they have decided not to tamper with the coaching staff of the team, with less than a month before the game against Burundi.
Norman Mapeza remains in charge of the team although other coaches in the junior national teams are being dumped.
Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, said the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against Burundi was one of the key issues discussed by the board at their meeting last Friday.
“The board looked at the logistics regarding the tie against Burundi,” said Mashingaidze.
“Basically, the guys should be in camp around the 19th or 20th of February and then we are looking at the logistics so that the team leaves during the mid-week ahead of the game.
“We are also waiting for the coach to give us names for the players he require so that we have the mandatory two weeks to call out those at foreign clubs. So after the meeting with the coach, we will then write to the players.”
The Zifa board are determined to resolve all outstanding issues related to corruption and match fixing before the start of the 2012 season in March.
Last Friday, the Zifa board received a report on the Central Region match-fixing controversy from a panel tasked with investigating the issue that includes, Brighton Mudzamiri, Wilfred Mukuna with Esther Mubaiwa,
The saga has claimed the scalps of Central Region boss Patrick Hokonya and his Southern Region counterpart Gift Banda, who are both were suspended, pending investigations.
Zifa Referees Committee, vice-chairperson, Samukeliso Silangane, has also been suspended.
Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, yesterday said the board wanted to close the chapter on match-fixing.
“The Zifa board received the report from the commission led by Mudzamiri and it’s based on their findings mostly from the match-fixing cases in Division One last season.
“But we hope that some of the information will also help us when dealing even with the cases in Asiagate.
“So at the moment the board is now studying the report and we will see what course of action will be taken.
“We hope that a decision on the cases has to be passed before March which is before the start of the season,” said Mashingaidze.
Mashingaidze said the Zifa assembly meeting, held a day after the board meeting, ratified and endorsed the suspension of Hokonya and Banda.
He said the Ethics Commission, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Ahmed Ebrahim, and tasked with closing the Asiagate chapter, will start hearings next month.
“They have been doing their work all along and they are now putting their machinery in place.
“So the board resolved that Ebrahim’s Commission should go ahead with their work and we hope that a position will be taken in all the cases cited before the start of the season in March.
“People have to be aware if they can still be accommodated in our football or not,” said Mashingaidze.
He said Zifa was also eager to see the amendments to the constitution completed before the start of the season and ahead of a proposed general meeting set for the end of March.
“The constitution commission tabled their report and today (yesterday) and tomorrow (today) they should coming up with dates for their outreach.
“It is hoped that they will meet the Eastern Region in Masvingo, while the meetings for the Southern Region will be in Bulawayo, the Central Region’s outreach will be in Gweru and Harare will host the Northern Region. What we need is for the rules
and regulations to be operational before the start of the season,” said Mashingaidze.
Online Reporter