Chiyangwa fumes over ‘SRC interference’

ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa will today send as explosive dossier to Fifa and the Government over the alleged interference by a number of individuals, including the Sports Commission bosses — Edward Siwela and Joseph Mucheterere — and a “cabal of criminals”, meant to destabilise the running of the national game in this country.

The Harare business tycoon had a lengthy one-hour chat with the Fifa leadership last night at which he provided them with a graphic illustration of how some former Zifa bosses were now working in cahoots with the Sports Commission’s leading officials to destabilise the running of domestic football.

Chiyangwa was asked by the Fifa leadership to provide a detailed written submission of what was happening in the country after he protested at what he claims to be a coalition of forces, who include some “power-hungry from Zifa bosses and the SRC leaders’’, to paralyse the administration of football in the country.

Relations between Chiyangwa and his immediate lieutenants on the Zifa board, vice-president Omega Sibanda and finance guru Philemon Machana — on one side and the SRC chairman Siwela and acting director general Siwela, have always been frosty.

The Zifa leaders believe the two SRC bosses have been on a witch-hunt to try and destablise the operations of the national game and have now ganged up with some former Zifa leaders who are part of the Sandton Project.

Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, recently brought the Zifa leaders and the two Sports Commission bosses to a round-table in his offices in Harare and asked them to smoke the peace pipe while also to find ways of working together for the development of football in the country.

However, Chiyangwa claims that the SRC duo have not heeded that call and have been working clandestinely with some forces who have been trying to destablise the running of the game and he had now advised his superiors at Fifa about what is happening.

Last night he spoke at length with the leadership in Zurich who asked him to forward them with a dossier of the issues he had raised and supporting material to back his claims that, indeed there was gross interference, especially from the Sports Commission.

“When the Minister clearly told us, the last time he called us to his office for what was a good meeting, to find each other and work towards the development of the game, we believed that we had buried the past and we were now moving into a future where things will be done according to the book and not to try and destablise our operations,’’ Chiyangwa said.

“However, we have realised that we were wrong, we had been duped by our colleagues from the SRC, especially Siwela and Muchechetere, who appear to have made it their mission that our leadership has to fall at all costs even though they have, so far, failed in that endeavour.

“What we have been picking from those whom they are meeting and talking to, including some criminals who should have no role to play in the administration of our football, is shocking and the time has come for us to tell them that, contrary to what they believe, we are aware of their machinations.

“What I have done is that I have alerted Fifa of what these guys are doing and my long chat with my bosses in Zurich was fruitful and they have asked me to provide them with a written submission of everything that has been happening and I am doing exactly that.

“I will also send another copy to the Government, through the Permanent Secretary in the Sports Ministry, so that the Minister is aware of what these guys, who have chosen not to take the path he prescribed for us, have been doing.

“They have been plotting against us, at any given time, and we have been quiet but the time has come to say it loud and clear that we are aware of what they are doing and they will not threaten us because we stand on firm ground.

“They can spend the next 10 years lying to their cabal, telling them they will help them get into office, which is sinking too low for people who are supposed to be our superintendents but I want to tell Siwela and Muchechetere that those will remain just their dreams and wishful thinking.