The Sunday Mail (Zimbabwe)

No sunshine in Hope’s fight

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to protect the club’s image.

“The impression is created that Hope Chizuzu is a spokesman of HCF and that his actions, comments or pronouncem­ents reflect the views or position of the club vis-à-vis the Zifa administra­tion,” wrote Bhasera.

“The facts are that Hope Chizuzu is not a spokespers­on of HCFC, neither is he the club’s communicat­ions officer. Hope Chizuzu is attached to the developmen­t structures of the club where he assists the developmen­t coach with liaison, disseminat­ion of informatio­n and coordinati­on of junior soccer structures.

“Hope Chizuzu’s utterances and views on the Zifa administra­tion are his personal views and position and do not in any way reflect HCFC position.”

Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda confirmed receipt of the letter and said City needs to go a step further and ensure that Chizuzu is “nowhere near football business.”

“The letter exposes Harare City in a way because the person they are talking about here is banned from associatio­n football and junior football is associatio­n football.

“We were not going to have problems with Chizuzu if he was attached to the department of housing or the sewer department.

“But because by Harare City’s own admission he is in the football structures, we find it necessary to remind the club of a letter we wrote to them in February this year,” he said.

The letter Sibanda alludes to was written by Zifa general secretary Joseph Mamutse.

“The Zimbabwe Football Associatio­n has imposed a life ban on Harare City football official Hope Chizuzu from all football related activities with immediate effect.

“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 note of this action by the Zifa Executive Committee,” reads part of the letter.

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