The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
THE Zimbabwe Football Association has recalled Philip Chiyangwa from his position as Cosafa president following reports that the former Zifa boss was behind a “third force” that destabilised the Warriors camp during their disastrous Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The Warriors failed to go past the group stage for the fourth time since their debut in 2004 and also recorded their worst defeat at the Afcon finals when they suffered a 4-0 mauling at the hands of DR Congo in their final group game.
Zimbabwe lost 0-1 to Egypt in the opening match before labouring to a 1-1 draw against Uganda in the second match.
Chaos surrounded the Warriors camp in Egypt as players and the association clashed over appearance fees and winning bonuses, resulting in the players threatening to boycott the DR Congo match.
Zifa believes this was a work of a group of vengeful individuals bent on undoing “the great work done by the current executive”.
The football mother body has also suspended board member Chamunorwa Chiwanza who is accused of “electoral fraud, threatening a member of the ZIFA Congress and destabilising Warriors Afcon camp amongst a host of charges”.
Addressing the media at a Harare hotel late Thursday afternoon, Zifa president Felton Kamambo, also revealed that his association would respond “at the appropriate time and not through the media” to a letter from the Sports and Recreation Commission in relation to the Afcon disaster.
“The Emergency Committee, having noted the intransigence behaviour of Mr Chiyangwa and active role he has been playing in destabilising our football, in particular the Afcon tournament, has also taken and communicated its decision to recall Phillip Chiyangwa from his position as Cosafa president as well as any other positions he may be holding in football across the globe,” read part of Kamambo’s statement.
The Zifa president said his association has gathered “enough” information and evidence that nails Chiyangwa and his associates.
No comment could be obtained from Chiyangwa.
