The Sunday Mail
IF you thought I won’t make an appearance after the prophecy that turned out to be a not so accurate prediction, then you don’t know VaShagare well. OK, so the victory didn’t come but 1-all draw against a star-studded Guinea is not a bad result.
The full value of the point we picked up at Rufaro last weekend will be appreciated when Group L heads towards the finishing line.
Now what is that stinking smell coming out of 53 Livingstone Avenue?
It’s a financial scandal that has once again exposed Zifa for the rotten organisation that it is.
Figures were cooked up to make us believe that Zifa suffered a $12 000 lose from hosting Guinea.
However, the lie just couldn’t fly in a country with such a high literacy rate as Zimbabwe.
The figures were scrutinised, glaring loopholes found and the media went to town with the matter.
The scandal has Cuthbert Dube and his sidekicks shaken.
Shaken to the call if Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela’s “we will not be commenting further on this matter” statement is anything to go by.
The nation is demanding answers and Gwesela says Zifa won’t be commenting on the matter?
He speaks like a clown and acts like one sometimes.
This is one of those times.
Is that public relations?
But Zifa have behaved like a nation unto themselves for a long time now and the arrogance they are showing as this financial scandal unfolds fits perfectly into the script we have had so far.
The statement by Sports and Recreation Minister Andrew Langa that his ministry will be summoning Zifa to explain the latest scandal also fits into the all talk and very little action script.
How many times has Langa promised to deal decisively with Zifa?
I am not holding my breath because Minister Langa has disappointed me on countless occasions by failing to live up to his tough talk.
Dube and his bootlickers — Mashingaidze, Farai Chihuri, Twine Phiri and John Phiri — are holding the national game at ransom and the man VaMugabe appointed to oversee the sports portfolio seems detached from reality.
Many moons ago, suspended Zifa board member finance Ben Gwarada raised the red flag over the manner in which Mashingaidze was refusing to hand over the association’s finance books.
Gwarada hinted that there was a lot of financial abuse at Zifa headquarters with money channelled by Fifa for women’s football, junior development and the coaches association finding its way into the pockets of individuals.
The latest episode adds credence to his claims.
Amid the furore generated by the Zifa financial scandal, Mashingaidze and Gwesela are busy trying to paint Dube a saint.
“The association would like to publicly state that no board members were paid from the income generated for the match and the Zifa president Dr Cuthbert Dube has never received any money from the association ever since he entered association football in the 1990’s,” the dull pair said in a statement.
The bootlicking pair needs deliverance and Minister Langa needs to get working.
Oh poor Mafu!
It’s said you don’t kick a man when he is down and one man who is on the canvass now is Bongani Mafu, the former Highlanders gaffer.
Days after being booted out by Bosso, the outspoken Mafu was at Rufaro last Sunday to watch the Warriors in action but the outing turned out to be a nightmare as someone helped themselves to his wallet.
“Now I really enjoyed that Zim vs Guinea match. The live atmosphere was incredible. Downside is those Rufaro thieves picking my pocket and stealing my wallet with ALL my bank cards and membership cards!!!!! Anyone in and around Rufaro Stadium? I need those things,” Mafu posted on Facebook a day after the game.
We hope Mafu gets his bank and membership cards back soon.
We also hope that he gets a job soon because his football brains and motor mouth are needed in our game.
Va Shagare exits the scene.
- VaShagare is the founder of DeMbare DotComs and can be contacted on that Facebook page as well as the email [email protected].
