Sports / Soccer
Mugabe testify in Gwindi case
14 Nov 2013 at 03:12hrs | Views
FORMER Zifa presidents Leo Mugabe and Vincent Pamire on Monday appeared before the Zifa disciplinary committee as key witnesses for Harare City chairman Leslie Gwindi.
The firebrand former Premier Soccer League and Dynamos secretary-general is facing charges of bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Gwindi, who challenged Cuthbert Dube for the Zifa presidency and is believed to be keen on running for the same post in next year's elections, is facing charges of contravening Section 4.1, 4.2(f) and 4.3 of the Zifa rules and regulations 1996 which deals with "misconduct, betting, bribery, bad language and conduct likely to bring the game of football into disrepute."
The charges arose from comments Gwindi allegedly made at the Bulawayo Press Club sometime in March this year.
Zifa legal advisor Ralph Maganga confirmed that the two former Zifa leaders appeared on Monday as Gwindi's witnesses and the case continues today where the third and final witness is expected to testify on behalf of Gwindi.
"The two appeared on Monday and tomorrow (today) his third and final witness is expected to testify but I don't know who it will be," said Maganga.
Sources, however, indicated that it could be Motor Action director Eric Rosen.
Part of the Zifa case reads: "On the 8th of March 2013 at the Bulawayo Press Club meeting at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel, Leslie Gwindi unlawfully and with intent to damage the reputation of the Zimbabwe Football Association board in particular and Zimbabwe football in general, committed an act of misconduct likely to bring the game into disrepute by using bad language and insulting the Premier Soccer League sponsors Delta Beverages (Castle Lager brand), the Zimbabwe Football Association board, the Zimbabwe National Senior Team coach and the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture."
Dieter Klaus-Pagels was the then Warriors coach while David Coltart was the Minister of Sport.
The PSL chairman Twine Phiri also signed an affidavit in which he noted that the league's relationship with Delta Beverages had been affected by the statements attributed to Gwindi.
However, sources within the PSL say a majority of the clubs are not happy with Phiri's actions. They argue that the issue was never discussed and a resolution passed and he had acted out of line.
He is now under fire and many have vowed that they would not vote for him next year if he seeks re-election.
The clubs agree with Gwindi that the league sponsorship in which winners are due to receive about $75 000, $15 000 less than the runners-up in the Mbada Cup which runs for two months, is too low.
They want the league sponsors to channel more into the game as teams are spending over $600 000 to win less than 20 percent of what they would have spent all season.
The firebrand former Premier Soccer League and Dynamos secretary-general is facing charges of bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Gwindi, who challenged Cuthbert Dube for the Zifa presidency and is believed to be keen on running for the same post in next year's elections, is facing charges of contravening Section 4.1, 4.2(f) and 4.3 of the Zifa rules and regulations 1996 which deals with "misconduct, betting, bribery, bad language and conduct likely to bring the game of football into disrepute."
The charges arose from comments Gwindi allegedly made at the Bulawayo Press Club sometime in March this year.
Zifa legal advisor Ralph Maganga confirmed that the two former Zifa leaders appeared on Monday as Gwindi's witnesses and the case continues today where the third and final witness is expected to testify on behalf of Gwindi.
"The two appeared on Monday and tomorrow (today) his third and final witness is expected to testify but I don't know who it will be," said Maganga.
Sources, however, indicated that it could be Motor Action director Eric Rosen.
Part of the Zifa case reads: "On the 8th of March 2013 at the Bulawayo Press Club meeting at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel, Leslie Gwindi unlawfully and with intent to damage the reputation of the Zimbabwe Football Association board in particular and Zimbabwe football in general, committed an act of misconduct likely to bring the game into disrepute by using bad language and insulting the Premier Soccer League sponsors Delta Beverages (Castle Lager brand), the Zimbabwe Football Association board, the Zimbabwe National Senior Team coach and the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture."
Dieter Klaus-Pagels was the then Warriors coach while David Coltart was the Minister of Sport.
The PSL chairman Twine Phiri also signed an affidavit in which he noted that the league's relationship with Delta Beverages had been affected by the statements attributed to Gwindi.
However, sources within the PSL say a majority of the clubs are not happy with Phiri's actions. They argue that the issue was never discussed and a resolution passed and he had acted out of line.
He is now under fire and many have vowed that they would not vote for him next year if he seeks re-election.
The clubs agree with Gwindi that the league sponsorship in which winners are due to receive about $75 000, $15 000 less than the runners-up in the Mbada Cup which runs for two months, is too low.
They want the league sponsors to channel more into the game as teams are spending over $600 000 to win less than 20 percent of what they would have spent all season.
Source - chronicle
