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D-Day for Hardbody

Sport
Central Soccer League title aspirants Hardbody will know their fate as the disciplinary committee which sat for their match-fixing case on Saturday, will announce their verdict this morning. Central Region chief Patrick Hokonya said the verdict would be officially announced this morning. “The disciplinary committee sat on Saturday and I am sure they have concluded […]

Central Soccer League title aspirants Hardbody will know their fate as the disciplinary committee which sat for their match-fixing case on Saturday, will announce their verdict this morning.

Central Region chief Patrick Hokonya said the verdict would be officially announced this morning.

“The disciplinary committee sat on Saturday and I am sure they have concluded their assessments. They are going to pass their verdict later at 7pm and tomorrow morning (today) we will announce the outcome after the interested parties are served with the verdict,” said Hokonya.

The busmen were arraigned before the Reginald Chidawanyika-chaired disciplinary committee, alleged to have bribed a match official to influence the outcome of their league match against Gweru Pirates in which they easily cruised to a 3-0 victory on October 16.

It is alleged Hardbody dangled a $200-carrot to Bulawayo referee Albert Mbuse to swing the match in their favour at Mkoba Stadium.

As exhibit before the disciplinary committee, audio recordings whose voices are alleged to be of Hardbody officials sweet-talking Mbuse to accept the bribe, were presented.

The Gweru sqaud are also being accused of using a fraudulently registered player, Tatenda Chingara, who played more than 15 matches this season.

Hardbody and Tripple B are locked in a fierce battle to gain Premiership status and their bid has spilled out of the football pitch. Hardbody lead the standings with 65 points, and three above Tripple B. It is their bitter rivals Tripple B, who are the complainants who alerted Hokonya of Chingara’s case.

But the bloated Hardbody executive is said to be divided, with some of their members believed to have tipped Tripple B of Chingara’s improper registration.

As soon as the allegations were unravelled, tensions started flaring with Hokonya and Brian Chishanga who leads the investigations committee both being served with spine-chilling death threats reportedly coming from Hardbody’s camp.

The other two members of the investigations committee Pervious Mathe and Lesley Maninge tendered their resignation letters just 24 hours before the hearing day, all citing “personal reasons” for stepping down.

If found guilty, Hardbody could lose points, but can still appeal after paying $1 000.