Sports / Soccer
Asiagate players to be compensated?
10 Nov 2015 at 10:35hrs | Views
THE labour union that represents the interests of footballers worldwide, FifPro, has called on Zifa to compensate players that were banned in the aftermath of the Asiagate scandal for loss of income.
More than 80 players, officials and journalists were implicated in match-fixing charges during the Warriors' friendly matches mainly in the Far East It emerged that between August 2007 and January 2010, the Warriors and other local clubs went on tour, mainly in Asia, as well as the Middle East and North Africa where they were paid to play losing matches.
Some were handed life bans while others were suspended by Zifa, but world football governing body Fifa refused to endorse the sanctions.
Zifa later backtracked and lifted the bans.
FifPro board member for the Africa Region Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe told Chronicle Sport on the sidelines of Paul Gundani's burial in Kwekwe on Saturday that the players were entitled to compensation for income lost during the time they were on suspension.
"We know that the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe had taken another step which to us is a progressive step to say since 2010 these players have been denied an opportunity to express themselves on the field of play.
"The only thing we know as footballers is to play football, but Zifa denied them an opportunity to play football for four to five years now? said Gaoshubelwe.
"If Zifa is to be taken seriously on its commitment to safeguard the welfare of players, then it must not challenge or oppose a court application by Fuz to say the players must be compensated from 2010 to 2015 for loss of income."
Some of the players most affected by the Asiagate ban include former E>ynamos defender Guthrie Zhokinyi, who received a life ban together with
Edmore Sibanda, former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Method Mwanjali, former Bidvest Wits defender Thomas Sweswe, former Zifa chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya and former Black Leopards head coach and incumbent ZPC Kariba gaffer Sunday Chidzambwa.
Gaoshubelwe also took a swipe at Zifa for failing to establish a national disciplinary resolution chamber to tackle football disputes resulting in cases being taken to the Labour Court.
The Labour Court, Gaoshubelwe said, took long to hear football cases and this had a negative bearing on professional footballers.
He also urged Zifa to ensure that there were standard player contracts with a minimum wage.
We request that a standard minimum contract be implemented in Zimbabwe. It can't be correct that only six or so clubs choose to defy such things.
We hope this will be done expeditiously so that we protect players and restore their dignity," Gaoshubelwe said.
More than 80 players, officials and journalists were implicated in match-fixing charges during the Warriors' friendly matches mainly in the Far East It emerged that between August 2007 and January 2010, the Warriors and other local clubs went on tour, mainly in Asia, as well as the Middle East and North Africa where they were paid to play losing matches.
Some were handed life bans while others were suspended by Zifa, but world football governing body Fifa refused to endorse the sanctions.
Zifa later backtracked and lifted the bans.
FifPro board member for the Africa Region Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe told Chronicle Sport on the sidelines of Paul Gundani's burial in Kwekwe on Saturday that the players were entitled to compensation for income lost during the time they were on suspension.
"We know that the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe had taken another step which to us is a progressive step to say since 2010 these players have been denied an opportunity to express themselves on the field of play.
"The only thing we know as footballers is to play football, but Zifa denied them an opportunity to play football for four to five years now? said Gaoshubelwe.
Some of the players most affected by the Asiagate ban include former E>ynamos defender Guthrie Zhokinyi, who received a life ban together with
Edmore Sibanda, former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Method Mwanjali, former Bidvest Wits defender Thomas Sweswe, former Zifa chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya and former Black Leopards head coach and incumbent ZPC Kariba gaffer Sunday Chidzambwa.
Gaoshubelwe also took a swipe at Zifa for failing to establish a national disciplinary resolution chamber to tackle football disputes resulting in cases being taken to the Labour Court.
The Labour Court, Gaoshubelwe said, took long to hear football cases and this had a negative bearing on professional footballers.
He also urged Zifa to ensure that there were standard player contracts with a minimum wage.
We request that a standard minimum contract be implemented in Zimbabwe. It can't be correct that only six or so clubs choose to defy such things.
We hope this will be done expeditiously so that we protect players and restore their dignity," Gaoshubelwe said.
Source - chronicle
