Sports / Soccer
Asiagate: Sunday 'Mhofu' Chidzambwa threatens legal action
13 Jul 2011 at 13:50hrs | Views
Sunday "Mhofu'' Chidzambwa, the Warriors' history-making coach, who is facing a ban from the game that gave him fame following recommendations by the Zifa probe to suspend the coaches who took part in all Asian tournaments is threatening a lawsuit and proclaiming his innocence in match-fixing allegations which are currently haunting Zimbabwean football.
Chidzambwa was coach of the Zimbabweans for seven of their estimated 15 games played in Kenya and Asia between 2007 and 2010 which are under scrutiny.
His name is part of a damning 162-page report on the side's Asian tours -- dubbed 'Asiagate' -- released by the Zimbabwean Football Association (Zifa).
Speaking on Wednesday after a training session with recently-promoted South African PSL side, Black Leopards, Chidzambwa said he would deal with the matters arising from the probe when he finds time to go back to Zimbabwe. He readily admitted he had travelled on some of the tours in question.
"If people rely on hearsay evidence, then I will meet them in court.
"Never in my life have I instructed a player to throw a game. They (Zifa) must come to me with evidence" said Chidzambwa
Chidzambwa blamed the association for the "mess" which he deemed to be politically motivated.
"You see, there is politics within ZIFA. There is the new group pointing fingers at the old group," he said.
"But regarding me, if one is involved in these sorts of situations, then the matter is to be taken to the courts, isn't it? That's all I want to say."
Leopards chairman David Thidiela said on Tuesday he had no doubt Chidzambwa was innocent.
"I know Sunday to be a God-fearing, polite individual to be involved in such a scandal," Thidiela said.
"I am clear about that and the fact that he will be the coach of Leopards next season."
Chidzambwa was coach of the Zimbabweans for seven of their estimated 15 games played in Kenya and Asia between 2007 and 2010 which are under scrutiny.
His name is part of a damning 162-page report on the side's Asian tours -- dubbed 'Asiagate' -- released by the Zimbabwean Football Association (Zifa).
Speaking on Wednesday after a training session with recently-promoted South African PSL side, Black Leopards, Chidzambwa said he would deal with the matters arising from the probe when he finds time to go back to Zimbabwe. He readily admitted he had travelled on some of the tours in question.
"If people rely on hearsay evidence, then I will meet them in court.
"Never in my life have I instructed a player to throw a game. They (Zifa) must come to me with evidence" said Chidzambwa
"You see, there is politics within ZIFA. There is the new group pointing fingers at the old group," he said.
"But regarding me, if one is involved in these sorts of situations, then the matter is to be taken to the courts, isn't it? That's all I want to say."
Leopards chairman David Thidiela said on Tuesday he had no doubt Chidzambwa was innocent.
"I know Sunday to be a God-fearing, polite individual to be involved in such a scandal," Thidiela said.
"I am clear about that and the fact that he will be the coach of Leopards next season."
Source - supersport.com
