HARARE City Football Club chairman Leslie Gwindi finally apologised to Zifa, Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the league sponsors yesterday, thereby meeting the remaining condition set aside by the Zifa disciplinary committee which found him guilty of bringing the game of football into disrepute. SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
In an official apology published in the local Press, Gwindi emphasised the utterances he is alleged to have made were never intended to cause any harm, but were made pursuant to freedom of expression bestowed on him by the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“Following the decision of the Zifa disciplinary committee which found me guilty of using bad language and sentenced me to, among other things, publishing an apology to Zifa, the PSL and the league sponsors, I do hereby unreservedly retract my statements made at Bulawayo Sports Club which were ruled to be in bad taste by the committee and sincerely apologise to Zifa and its executive members, Premier Soccer League and the league sponsors namely Delta Beverages for any inconvenience caused.
“The utterances were never intended to cause any harm, but were made pursuant to freedom of expression bestowed on me by the Constitution of Zimbabwe and for the furtherance of football in Zimbabwe.
“If I overstepped in the process and injured feelings of some other people, I apologise,” read Gwindi’s apology.
The former PSL secretary-general was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute following his public utterances in Bulawayo in March last year.
He is alleged to have used unsavoury language towards Delta Beverages who sponsor the league through their Castle Lager brand.
He also castigated Zifa for appointing former Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels whom he said was unsuitable for the post. Gwindi also took aim at the then minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture David Coltart saying he was not paying sufficient attention to the national game.
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Consequently, Gwindi was banned for five-years and three-years were wholly suspended while the remaining two-years were to be suspended on condition that Gwindi met certain conditions set aside by Zifa. The Zifa disciplinary committee had pointed out that one year would be suspended on condition that Gwindi paid a fine of $6 000 within a fortnight of the judgment.
Another one year was also set aside on condition that Gwindi publicly apologised to Zifa, the PSL and the league’s sponsors. Now, Gwindi, who has declared interest in contesting for the Zifa presidency is free to campaign.
The nomination for the Zifa board elections opened on Friday.
