Zifa demands $73 000 from Benjani Mwaruwari

ZIMBABWE's football motherbody, Zifa, are set to issue an ultimatum to Benjani Mwaruwari over levies accruing from the player's testimonial in May.

A galaxy of football stars invaded Zimbabwe in May during Mwaruwari's testimonial held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare in a match that featured the Warriors and a team assembled by Mwaruwari.

The match was attended by 40 000 fans but Zifa are yet to get their levies.

Zifa chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze said the association's board had resolved yesterday, during a meeting to demand a reconciliatory statement from the former Manchester City player and also demand the dues owed to the mother association.

"The board resolved to seek a reconciliatory statement from Benjani and we are also demanding what the player owes Zifa for the testimonial.

"There are levies that Mwaruwari was supposed to pay for the match, we wrote to him and reminded him that he should cough up but to no avail," said Mashingaidze.

"He owes a total of $73 000 for the Zifa levy and fees for the various committees that were in place during the hosting of the game," he said.

Mashingaidze said the board might be forced to resort to the relevant statutes as they seek to recover the monies from the former Portsmouth player.

International soccer stars, including Nwanku Kano, Lucas Radebe, Aaron Mokoena, Lomana Lua Lua, John Pantsil, Christopher Samba and El Hadji Diouf among others featured in the Friends of Benjani team.

Mwaruwari, however, seems to have fallen out with Zifa following his close association with former Zifa CEO and Asiagate accused, Henrietta Rushwaya during the hosting of the game.

Mashingaidze also added that the football motherbody would be coming down hard on the affiliates and clubs that are yet to pay what they owe the national football association.

"Sporting and other such levies which are long overdue should now be paid by the various clubs that owe them.

"The board resolved that we come down hard and apply the relevant statutes to those that are failing to pay these levies," he added.

Meanwhile, Mashingaidze said the board also resolved to float a tender for the supply of the national team's replica jerseys and other related merchandise.

He said they will be floating the tender this coming week as they seek to fill in a void that has resulted in most Zimbabweans buying jerseys of South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana.

"We will be notifying prospective partners on the tender next week (this week)," he said.

At the same meeting the board paid tribute to Zifa president, Cuthbert Dube, for the efforts he was making to keep the national association afloat.

"The board expressed their appreciation to the president as he is the one who is funding the core activities of the association. The board resolved to release a statement expressing their appreciation," said Mashingaidze.

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