The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
ZIMBABWE’S participation at the African Cup of Nations finals is almost certain, even if the Sports and Recreation Commission fails to reinstate the suspended ZIFA Board by end of business tomorrow, as ordered by the world governing body FIFA.
FIFA on December 21, ordered the SRC to reinstate the ZIFA Board, which was suspended on November 16.
The world governing body also hinted in their letter that Zimbabwe could face possible sanctions if the ZIFA Board was not reinstated by January 3 (tomorrow).
And the general fear among Zimbabweans is that the country might be banned from international football, resulting in the Warriors being booted out from the AFCON finals which get underway on January 9.
However, the FIFA letter also indicates that an immediate reaction from the world governing body is unlikely, as there is a thorough and time consuming process that has to be followed before FIFA takes action.
Should the SRC fail to reinstate the ZIFA Board, FIFA will refer the matter to the Bureau of FIFA Council which will investigate the issue before making recommendations.
FIFA are also keen to investigate allegations levelled against the ZIFA Board, once the SRC shares the relevant documents with the world governing body’s ethics body.
Therefore, FIFA, who are also seized with issues in Kenya, Djibouti, Chad, Namibia and Cote D’Ivoire among other hot spots, might not be forced into making knee-jerk decision on Zimbabwe.
FIFA is yet to ban Kenya, almost 50 days after a crisis erupted in that country when government disbanded the Football Kenya Federation that was headed by Nick Mwendwa.
Furthermore, FIFA have acknowledged that they’re also seriously concerned about the relationship between ZIFA and the SRC “for the past couple of years”.
FIFA also makes it clear in the letter that it expects its member associations to “be fully accountable and, if required, to submit to the said authorities all relevant information regarding the use of public funds, as per the relevant national legislation.
“FIFA additionally supports regular reporting by its member associations to the said governmental authorities and the appropriate guidance from the latter.
“Furthermore, FIFA has a zero-tolerance policy to any form of corruption as well as sexual abuses of any sort in football,” read part of the FIFA letter to ZIFA.
The suspended ZIFA Board faces a litany of charges including gross incompetence, failure to account for public funds and sexual abuse of female referees.
The FIFA letter also explains the process that is undergone before the decision to ban or not is reached.
“Therefore, we kindly ask you to inform the SRC that in the event its decisions to suspend the ZIFA executive committee members and to appoint a “restructuring committee” instead are not reversed before January 3, 2022 at the latest, we would have no other choice, but to submit the present matter to the Bureau of FIFA Council for consideration and decision.
“Without prejudice to the above, we would like to highlight that FIFA is committed to investigating the aforesaid allegations brought forward by the SRC as soon as the latter has shared with our independent judicial bodies and all relevant documentation brought before ordinary courts in Zimbabwe and for which we understand no decision has been taken by these courts to date,” said FIFA.
The off the field politics have, however, not distracted the Warriors who arrived safely in Cameroon on Thursday, and have already settled well in the West African country.
Warriors coach, Norman Mapeza, is happy with the team’s preparations.
“So far so good,” he told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“We arrived safely here in Cameroon and we held our first training session on Friday,” said Mapeza.
Eighteen of the 23-man squad arrived in Cameroon on Thursday, including Iceland-based midfielder Kundai Benyu who joined the team in Ethiopia.
The Warriors will play a practice match against Sudan today, while the other match against Cameroon is virtually off.
“Sudan game on January 2 is confirmed, but Cameroon want to play on the third which is not acceptable to us,” Warriors manager, Wellington Mpandare told The Sunday Mail Sport from Cameroon.
He added: “Benyu trained with the rest of the team today (Friday).
“We are expecting Knowledge Musona, David Moyo, Admiral Muskwe, Tino Kadewere and Jordan Zemura to arrive here on the fifth (January 5).”
The 22-year-old Zemura played his third consecutive match for AFC Bournemouth, since his return from injury, as the Cherries walloped 10-man Cardiff 3-0 in a Championship match at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday night.
The roving left back, who has become a crucial figure for the Zimbabwe national team, has another assignment tomorrow, when Bournemouth play Peterborough, before he joins the Warriors camp.
Zemura has now played three consecutive games in December, since his recovery from an injury that kept him out in November.
He has 18 appearances for the Cherries who appear set for a return to the Premier League.
Zimbabwe are in Group B alongside Senegal, Guinea and Malawi.
They open their campaign against Sadio Mane’s Senegal on January 10, before playing Malawi four days later.
The Warriors will be missing the services of key players Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa) and Marshall Munetsi (Stade Reims) due to injury.
