A total of 33 players and one former coach, Brazilian flop Valinhos, cleared by the Independent Disciplinary Ad Hoc Committee over the Asiagate football match-fixing allegations, were finally named last night following an extraordinary Zifa board meeting in Harare.
Justice Ahmed Ebrahim led the committee that eventually made its first major decision last night. Zifa communications manager Nicky Dhlamini-Moyo confirmed the names of the players, who played two games and less.
These include the most important players for Zimbabwe’s campaign in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup — the South Africa-based duo of Willard Katsande, who plays for Kaizer Chiefs, Khama Billiat who turns out for Ajax Cape Town and Oscar Machapa of Moroka Swallows. Ovidy Karuru of US Boulogne, France, was also cleared.
One retired player, Gilbert Mushangazhike, was also cleared while the rest are local players from various clubs across the Premier Soccer League.
The availability of the players for coach Rahman Gumbo means he has a full squad to choose from for next month’s three taxing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
The Warriors will host Guinea on June 5-7, travel to Mozambique the following weekend for the World Cup qualifiers before hosting Burundi in the third week in the Afcon reverse fixture. The Warriors lost the opening match 2-1 in Bujumbura on February 29.
The Warriors were drawn in the same group with seven-times African champions Egypt, Guinea and Mozambique, with only one team qualifying for the final qualifying round of the 2014 World Cup.
The Africa Zone has 10 qualifying groups. The winners from each group will then be separated in five different two-legged matches. Victors from those five matches will be on the road to Brazil as Africa has five slots at the continental football festival.
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This means the Warriors need to finish top of their group and take advantage of Egypt’s recent domestic problems and Mozambique’s inconsistency to pick maximum points from home matches. The meeting, which started at 1500hrs and finished shortly after 1820 hours, also tackled the local match-fixing scandal and the legal dispute currently taking place in Switzerland — where international match organising company Kentaro is suing Zifa for lost earnings during the June 2 2010 Warriors-Brazil match. Kentaro wants $600 000 from Zifa, but the national association is adamant they were not involved in the organisation of the match, as it involved the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
Details of the rest of the items on the agenda will be released today.
Full list Coach: Valinhos Players: (foreign-based) — Oscar Machapa, Ovidy Karuru, Khama Billiat, Willard Katsande (local) — Nicholas Alifandika, Milton Makopa, Evans Chikwaikwai, Augustine Mbara, Kennedy Chirwa, Brian Katsuruware, Rex Mabeza, Martin Vengesai, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Milton Ncube, Khumbulani Banda, Nyasha Mukumbi, Thabani Goredema, Christopher Samakweri, Tawanda Muparati, Thembani Masuku, Charles Chiutsa, Asani Nhongo, Ronald Sengu, Marshal Matenda, Last Chibwiro, Edwin Nkomo, Max Nyamupanedengu, Pride Zireni, Arthur Mafusire, Hardlife Mawundi, Tauya B, Ncube C Retired: Gilbert Mushangazhike Notable uncleared players and number of games they played Thomas Sweswe (15), Lionel Mtizwa (13), Mtshumayeli Moyo (13), Eusebio Manuwere (10), Gilbert Banda, Johannes Ngodzo (both 9), Justice Majabvi, Danisa Phiri (both 8), Mernard Mupera, Edward Sadomba, Kingston Nkatha, Washington Pakamisa, Method Mwanjali, Richard Mteki (all 7), Tsungi Mudzamiri, Edmore Sibanda, Phillip Marufu, Energy Murambadoro, Costa Nhamoinesu (all 6), Edward Tembo, Ali Sadiki, Beaven Chikaka, Tafadzwa Dube, Willard Manyatera (all 5).
