CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro paid his $6 000 appeal fee to Zifa on Friday, as he seeks to be cleared of Asiagate match-fixing after he was handed a 10-year ban from football activities by the Zifa Independent Ethics Committee.
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The Caps United gaffer became the first to pay the appeal fees among officials banned from the game for their alleged roles in the match fixing scam — the biggest in the history of the local game. “I have forwarded everything to Zifa. Zifa are the right people you can talk to,” said Mangwiro.
Zifa has already banned 15 players and officials from the game for life after they were found guilty of allegedly accepting bribes from Asian betting syndicates to throw away matches between 2007 and 2009.
This followed an investigation by the retired Supreme Court judge Juctice Ahmed Ebrahim-led Independent Ethics Committee.
Some of those handed life bans include former Warriors skipper Method Mwanjali, defender Thomas Sweswe and coach Sunday Chidzambwa.
Last week, Zifa commissioned a special appeals committee to hear cases of the appellants and set $6 000 as the appeals fee.
And Mangwiro, who insisted he was innocent, made a prompt payment of his appeals fee on Friday — two days after the appeals committee had been commissioned by Zifa president Cuthbert Dube.
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He could be the first to have his appeal heard by the Zifa appeals committee.
Zifa has insisted that only those appellants who have paid their appeal fees in full will have their cases heard.
Mangwiro had transformed Caps United’s fortunes after taking over from sacked Northern Irishman Sean Connor before being swept away by the Asiagate scandal.
He has been replaced by his assistant Mkhuphali Masuku.
Meanwhile, despite the dark cloud that has fallen over Dynamos over the death of chairman of the board of directors, the club will continue their search for glory tomorrow when they face Buffaloes in a league match at Rufaro Stadium.
To achieve that glory, Dynamos need to beat their visitors and hope that second-placed Highlanders drop points at home to FC Platinum on the same day.
Dynamos will be going into the match with their confidence skyrocketing after their 3-0 thumping of rivals Caps United two days ago.
Denver Mukamba, Simba Sithole and Rodreck Mutuma were on target as Dynamos asserted their dominance over United.
Buffaloes, arguably the surprise package of the season, will be no pushovers though.
The Mutare-based side who won promotion into the top-flight league this season, are sitting pretty on sixth position.
Buffaloes have been very potent, especially on the road, where they have lost just thrice so far.
Fixtures tomorrow: Dynamos v Buffaloes, Highlanders v FC Platinum, Black Mambas v Hardbody, Motor Action v Gunners, Chicken Inn v Caps United, Shabanie Mine v Quelaton, Hwange v Blue Rangers, Harare City v Monomotapa.
