Sports / Soccer
Chidzambwa, Mwanjali ready to sue Zifa over Asiagate
02 Apr 2013 at 20:22hrs | Views
ASIAGATE casualties Sunday Chidzambwa and Method Mwanjali are to meet their lawyers soon to discuss taking legal action against the Zimbabwean Football Association.
Chidzambwa, and Mwanjali were among 15 players and officials handed lifetime bans from football by Zifa in October.
However, world governing body Fifa has refused to endorse the punishments, leaving Zifa vulnerable to lawsuits from more than 50 players.
Chidzambwa and Mwanjali see this as an opportunity to make the association pay for damaging their reputations and they will seek legal advice in the coming weeks. Zifa claimed it had found the players, some members of the technical team, journalists and officials guilty of match-fixing during the Warriors' Asia tours between 2007 and 2010.
"To be honest, I was waiting all this time for someone to tell me what I had done wrong. I thought I'd hear someone say: 'Sunday, you did A, B, and D' ... but that never happened," Chidzambwa said.
The coach was given a new post at Leopards - being shifted from his position as the head coach to technical director - two weeks after the life ban was handed down.
Both Chidzambwa and Mwanjali appealed against the decision but were not successful.
"I was never called for a hearing by Zifa, but there was this long report that accused me of being involved in match-fixing. My lawyers are in Zimbabwe and I will comment a bit more once I have been in touch with them. I was always innocent," he said.
The coach said he had paid $6000 for an appeal last year and expected Zifa to refund him and others who were fined for their alleged involvement.
Mwanjali, who had insisted that Zifa was using him as a scapegoat, said he also wanted to clear his name.
Wits central defender Thomas Sweswe was also handed a lifetime ban and went through an unsuccessful appeal process in December. He, too, is likely to go after Zifa for a refund as well as slapping them with a lawsuit.
More South Africa-based Zimbabwean players appear likely to opt for lawsuits.
Chidzambwa, and Mwanjali were among 15 players and officials handed lifetime bans from football by Zifa in October.
However, world governing body Fifa has refused to endorse the punishments, leaving Zifa vulnerable to lawsuits from more than 50 players.
Chidzambwa and Mwanjali see this as an opportunity to make the association pay for damaging their reputations and they will seek legal advice in the coming weeks. Zifa claimed it had found the players, some members of the technical team, journalists and officials guilty of match-fixing during the Warriors' Asia tours between 2007 and 2010.
"To be honest, I was waiting all this time for someone to tell me what I had done wrong. I thought I'd hear someone say: 'Sunday, you did A, B, and D' ... but that never happened," Chidzambwa said.
The coach was given a new post at Leopards - being shifted from his position as the head coach to technical director - two weeks after the life ban was handed down.
Both Chidzambwa and Mwanjali appealed against the decision but were not successful.
"I was never called for a hearing by Zifa, but there was this long report that accused me of being involved in match-fixing. My lawyers are in Zimbabwe and I will comment a bit more once I have been in touch with them. I was always innocent," he said.
The coach said he had paid $6000 for an appeal last year and expected Zifa to refund him and others who were fined for their alleged involvement.
Mwanjali, who had insisted that Zifa was using him as a scapegoat, said he also wanted to clear his name.
Wits central defender Thomas Sweswe was also handed a lifetime ban and went through an unsuccessful appeal process in December. He, too, is likely to go after Zifa for a refund as well as slapping them with a lawsuit.
More South Africa-based Zimbabwean players appear likely to opt for lawsuits.
Source - sportslive
