The Zimbabwe Football Association has confirmed that it has suspended some of its members and administrators to initiate investigations into match fixing allegations.
The Association’s spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela told Studio7 that executive committee member Edzai Kasinauyo and former national team coach Ian Gorowa, among several others and an Asian betting syndicate member, are part of the suspects named in the match fixing scam.
Gwesela said there is overwhelming evidence that there were attempts within ZIFA to throw some matches.
A press statement issued by the organisation on Tuesday on its website read in part, "The Zimbabwe Football Association Executive committee would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that following its meeting held in Harare today (Tuesday, March 08, 2016), it has provisionally suspended Executive Committee member, Edzai Kasinauyo.
“The suspension has been occasioned by allegations of match fixing ahead of the 2017 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match between Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Mr. Kasinauyo has been fingered in the match fixing scam and investigations are going on.”
ZIFA president Phillip Chiyangwa is expected to issue a statement after consultations with COSAFA, CAF, FIFA and government of Zimbabwe.
Efforts to get comment from some of those fingered in the scam were fruitless but ZIFA President Phillip Chiyangwa confirmed the suspensions Wednesday and told Studio7 he was in a meeting with Sports Minister Makhosini Hlongwane when reached for comment.
Warriors fan Fabian Mahembe said he is disappointed with the news of the scam after the ghost of Asiagate had almost been laid to rest.
"I hope that this news proves to be untrue we have just laid the ghost of Asiagate to rest and now this new match fixing scandal … We thought that the new administrators would usher in a new wind of change with no room for match fixing," said Mahembe.
Zimbabwe's Warriors were involved in a match fixing scandal, commonly known as Asiagate, a few years ago that threatened to disrupt the game of football in the country.
Some footballers and administrators threw matches with an Asian betting syndicate. It still remains a mystery why they were not put behind the slammer.
