The Sunday Mail
Sports Editor
A SEETHING Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa yesterday accused Henrietta Rushwaya of being a habitual and reckless match-fixer who will soon face the music.
Responding to claims by the former Zifa chief executive that she worked with some “European detectives” to bust match-fixing, Chiyangwa said Rushwaya and her alleged accomplices were “going down this time.”
“That woman is reckless, a criminal and everything she says must be taken with a pinch of salt. She must shut up and wait for her day in court,” he said.
“She claims to have been working with some detectives . . . CIA or whatever and the question which begs answers is who gave her that mandate?
“You see this woman is lying and is increasingly getting desperate because she knows she is going down. “This funny business must come to an end. I will start with them from the Asiagate scandal, through this latest one and will not rest until they are in prison.
“They took us for fools when we closed the Asiagate issue but they will soon realise that we are not dull. No, no we cannot have that. No not under my watch.
“We are working hard to rebuild our game but here we are having some people working round the clock to take our game down! It has to stop now.”
Chiyangwa accused suspended Zifa board member Edzai Kasinauyo and former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa of coming to him like wolves in sheep skin.
“I have survived in much more difficult terrain before and I know pretenders, haters when I come across them.
“Look, Edzai wanted to be by my side every time, he wanted to ensure that he hears everything I get told.
“They are criminals who strive in criminality but they are going down this time. All of them including this guy, what’s his name? Shaba? Yes, Kudzie Shaba.”
Chiyangwa disclosed that he had no choice but to use his own money to fund Zifa operations as the coffers at 53 Livingstone Avenue were empty while sponsors were coy on getting into bed with the association.
“I am driving Zifa from my pocket and anyone who attacks the association and Zimbabwean football is attacking me directly, hence the anger that is inside me.
“If there is anything that PC will be remembered for during his term as Zifa president, it is dealing ruthlessly with match-fixers,” he declared.
Supporters back Zifa
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
THE Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association (ZNSSA) has thrown its full weight behind Zifa’s ongoing investigation into alleged match fixing.
The investigation has already seen the suspension of Zifa board member Edzai Kasinauyo as well as a ban being slapped on former chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya.
As the soccer governing body vows to leave no stone unturned the supporters have weighed in with ZNSSA founding president Eddie “Mboma” Nyatanga yesterday meeting Zifa boss Phillip Chiyangwa to get a briefing on the latest developments.
“We met the president (Chiyangwa) and he showed us part of the damning evidence that is informing their investigations and I must say we are very, very disappointed,” said Nyatanga.
“The most unfortunate part is that this comes a few weeks after some of these characters were pardoned for the role in Asiagate.
“Looking back, one then realises that this is probably the reason why they were pushing out our coach (Kallisto) Pasuwa.
“As supporters we urge the police to come in and lead this investigation from the onset before evidence is tampered with. We would also like to commend the whistle blower who brought this scam to the attention of the authorities, he is a true friend of the game.
“Government, through Minister Makhosini Hlongwane, has been working very hard to develop football in the country and as supporters we are not going to just sit while such efforts are derailed.”
Meanwhile Nyatanga said his association is mobilising at least four buses to ferry fans to Mbabane, Swaziland where the Warriors will face Sihlangu in an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Good Friday.
“The match fixers can never stop us from rallying behind our team. We are actually in the process of mobilising at least four buses to go to Swaziland where we will rally behind our boys,” he said.
