SAFA will not bar Zimbabwe players from playing in SA

JOHANNESBURG. - South African Football Association chief executive, Robin Peterson, says Zifa's decision to blacklist players from representing the national team cannot translate to a ban on those footballers from pursuing their club careers in Mzansi.

Earlier reports had suggested Zifa suspended 80 players, including 10 who play in the Absa Premiership, from playing for the Warriors until their involvement in the Asiagate scandal has been determined by an Independent Ethics Committee.

The 10 South Africa-based players affected are Method Mwanjali, Lionel Mtizwa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thomas Sweswe, Willard Katsande, Jimmy Jambo (Kaizer Chiefs), Oscar Machapa, Gilbert Mapemba (Moroka Swallows), Khama Billiat (Ajax Cape Town), Energy Murambadoro (Bidvest Wits) and Kingston Nkatha (Black Leopards).

Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, said the suspension of the players was only related to national team games although they would retain their freedom to pursue their careers with their clubs.

However, that has not stopped a media frenzy where speculation is rife that the players could also be barred from playing for their clubs until their cases had been resolved. That media frenzy is particularly high in South Africa where the majority of Zimbabwe's foreign-based footballers ply their trade.

Yesterday, Safa CEO, Peterson, said it was not possible for Zifa to bar a Zimbabwean player based in South Africa from plying his trade in that country.

Peterson said only Fifa could make such a determination.

"We have not received any written correspondence from Zifa on this issue," says Peterson. "My view is that they (Zifa) cannot bar their South African-based players from playing for the clubs here.

"I, for example, cannot ban May Mahlangu from playing in Sweden because we do not have the power to do that. We are waiting for Fifa to make a decision so we cannot say more on the issues. We will take a position in line with the Fifa decision."