ZIFA HIT BACK AT CHIZUZU
ZIFA have hit out at Harare City official Hope Chizuzu for issuing statements likely to cause disaffection between the association and the Premiership outfit, following sensational claims he made that the football mother body had barred two of the club’s officials from sitting on the bench at the weekend.
Chizuzu, a member of the Harare City committee, is not new to courting trouble with the ZIFA leadership that he has persistently tried to undermine in the last two years, especially the association’s boss Philip Chiyangwa.
In his latest tirade against ZIFA, Chizuzu, who also allegedly masqueraded as a FIFA security agent in Zimbabwe, once again took to social media to claim the association had barred Harare City technical crew members — fitness trainer Thompson “Rubberman’’ Matenda and medical doctor Sowman Mudariki — from sitting on the Sunshine Boys bench when they hosted Bulawayo City at Rufaro.
“After the farce of homologating Nyamhunga in the dark of the night last Friday, the First Instance Board, yesterday went a gear further when denying licences for Harare City FC medical staff, further throwing the match between the big cities into logistical chaos,’’ Chizuzu, who acted as the club’s media liaison officer during their weekly press conference last week, wrote on his Facebook page.
“Despite the licences being out, Xolisani Gwesela with the surprising help of Wilson Mutekede, the ZIFA Technical Director, withheld the licences for doctor Mudariki, fitness trainer Thompson Matenda (Marabha) (both in Ndola with Warriors), physiotherapists, Farai Muguwe and Last Siniwa, leaving no one to sit on the bench.
“Only coaches Mark Harrison, his assistant Mark Mathe and ‘keepers coach Tich Diya were issued with their licences.
“Such a move is shocking because at the time of application, FIB didn’t question the credentials of the officials, neither did they refuse the money paid. More worrying is how Mutekede got licenced to assess the credentials of medical personnel under FIB when the team led by Dr Edward Chagonda is there in cases were qualifications need verification and or authentication.
“When called the medical committee chief and experienced FIFA instructor laughed it off as truancy by officials not clothed with such powers. He didn’t even think it was a serious issue warranting comment.
“It is increasingly getting naked that ZIFA just cannot do simple things right. With just five days to go before the end of the term of office of the executive, it is easy to see why some of the decisions are this crazy in Devils in blues dresses style.
“But a few calls last night saw the entire medical team allowed to sit on bench as Harare City played Bulawayo City at Rufaro, leaving many to wonder what measures are being used to certify officials under the FIFA club licensing protocol.’’
ZIFA communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, who is also the FIB spokesperson, hit back at Chizuzu and warned him against “spreading malicious falsehoods against the association’’.
“Cde Hope Chizuzu, it is important to clarify issues before posting falsehoods and misinforming to the public. All qualified technical staff from Harare City, including Dr Mudariki, Farai Muguwe (both highly qualified medical officials) and Thompson Matenda were licensed.
“Dr Mudariki and Matenda are with the Warriors in Zambia. How then did we deny them to sit on the Harare City bench when they are in Zambia? Your outrageous claims don’t make sense.
“It is also important to remind you that Wilson Mutekede is the technical director and all technical officials are licensed by his office and he has no reason to withhold qualified officials’ accreditation cards.
“Football medicine is his key result area. I doubt if you ever spoke to Dr Chagonda because we work cordially with our good football medicine committee chairman and he has never accused ZIFA operatives of usurping any power. If you care about football so much as you claim, then it is important for you to contribute positively to the beautiful game than spreading outrageous lies.
“Let me reiterate that all qualified Harare City officials, including Dr Mudariki, physiotherapist Muguwe and Matenda (Marabha) were licensed and their accreditation cards were never withheld.
“In fact, the trio is part of the Warriors technical bench and it would be defiant of logic to deny them to sit on the Harare City technical bench. Next time please ask Sir before propagating falsehoods,’’ Gwesela said.
Gwesela said ZIFA’s relations with Harare City and all the top-flight clubs were cordial and the association would not allow individuals, who have tried without success to secure positions on the board, to dent those working relations. The ZIFA warning to Chizuzu comes nearly two months after the association had sought to reinstate the Harare City official’s ban from football-related activities.
ZIFA chief executive Joseph Mamutse on February 1 wrote to Harare City chairman Alois Masepe advising him of the ban.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has imposed a life ban on Harare City Football Club official, Hope Chizuzu, from all football related activities with immediate effect.
“The Association had lifted a ban on Chizuzu in May 2017, but he has continued to breach football statutes with reckless abandon during the rehabilitation period and the Executive Committee has been left with no choice but to exercise its constitutional powers.
“Chizuzu has been handed the life ban in terms of Article 34 (n) of the ZIFA constitution and is barred from all association football roles and activities administered under the FIFA and ZIFA statutes.
“Chizuzu is charged with contravening Article 7 of the ZIFA constitution which regulates the conduct of ZIFA officials and bodies in all their activities.
“Chizuzu is charged with bringing the game of football into disrepute due to his complete disregard of ZIFA’s rules and regulations; consistently misrepresenting facts of ZIFA’s activities by concocting malicious allegations against the association president, Dr Philip Chiyangwa and the Executive committee.
Chizuzu stands accused of writing letters to sister football associations spreading falsehoods and inciting hostility against the ZIFA leadership.
“He consistently and fraudulently misrepresented to be a FIFA Security advisor/representative without having been appointed to any such role in any manner whatsoever either by ZIFA or FIFA.
“He further went on, without an iota of shame, to extensively use such misrepresentations to peddle falsehoods, malicious allegations, sowing disharmony and, criminally extorted from football officials by claiming to have some influence, which he clearly did not have.
“The expulsion automatically obliges Chizuzu to relinquish all roles, rights and functions as a football official with immediate effect and his employer, Harare City Football Club is advised to take immediate note of this action by the ZIFA Executive Committee,’’ Mamutse said.