Zifa offers Ian Gorowa a long term contract

IN a show of confidence Zifa has offered the Zimbabwe Warriors coach Ian 'Dibango' Gorowa a long term contract whose details will be made public soon. Gorowa took over the reigns as the national team coach from German national Dieter Klaus-Pagels and led the Warriors to their third consecutive appearance at the African Nations Championship which will be held in South Africa early next year.

"We are done with his contract but we will make a public announcement on the details of the contract when the coach comes back from South Africa this weekend. He will be at Barbourfields Stadium for the big tie between Highlanders and Dynamos," said the Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze.

He could not be drawn into discussing any further details about the contract but indications are that Gorowa will be in charge up to the 2018 World Cup finals that will be held in Russia.

"The contract is clear on what the board expects from him but all that will be made public sometime next week," said Mashingaidze.

Meanwhile, Zifa have expressed its displeasure over the involvement of some banned Asiagate match-fixers in football events and said those found to be engaging in such activities risk being arrested.

"We are reliably informed that one Premier Soccer League Club has in its ranks a banned match-fixer cum-journalist. Such behaviour is not only undesirable but a flagrant disregard of Football statutes.

We have written  letters to our affiliate, Premier Soccer League (PSL) registering our disgust over the presence of these banned match-fixers in football events and want to warn that we shall deal ruthlessly with all people bent on bringing the game of football into disrepute," said Zifa through a statement by its communications manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday.

Zifa said it will do all within its power to ensure those who flout rules and regulations are punished.

"Corruption in football is fatal concoction that obliterates the moral fabric of the beautiful game. The architects of match -fixing will be flushed out of the game without fear or favour and Zifa has adopted a 24/7 surveillance policy on all football activities to protect the beautiful game from football dinosaurs. Match -fixers are not allowed anyway near football, be it at stadiums or football functions," said Zifa.

The association said it has also enlisted the services of  the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

"Consequently, banned individuals who are defying our directive to desist from involving themselves in football events will face the full wrath of the law. It is our responsibility to preserve the sacrosanct values of the game," said Zifa.