Former Zimbabwe football Association (Zifa) chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya has commended the new board led by businessman Phillip Chiyangwa for bringing the infamous Asiagate scandal to an end. Our Staff
The Zifa board reached the decision to bring an end to the match-fixing scandal during an executive meeting held in the capital on January 8.
However, the country’s supreme sport monitoring body, Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), has said they will investigate how the new board reached that conclusion.
In a statement, Rushwaya said by doing so, the new board had effectively upheld justice and the rule of law.
“The fact that the world football governing body, Fifa, refused to endorse the bans was a clear testimony that the procedure in which investigations were carried [out] was not done properly and procedurally,” wrote Rushwaya.
She added: “I think there should be a sense of forgiving each other. Let bygones be bygones. All those who were implicated cannot be killed or sacrificed, but people must learn to forgive for the sake of moving forward as a unit for the good of the game.”
A source close to the ongoings at Number 53 Livingstone Avenue said Rushwaya could make a dramatic come- back to football leadership, taking into consideration that Zifa has demanded a quick response from women football in as far as restructuring their leadership is concerned.
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“People should be braced for Rushwaya to come back anytime soon. What we must not forget is that Rushwaya and Chiyangwa have been good friends for a long time. The two worked closely during their time in the Warriors Trust. They know and trust each other’s leadership qualities very well, so anything can happen,” the source said.
Contacted for comment, Rushwaya spoke highly of Chiyangwa, but was coy over speculation of her imminent return to football.
“I just want to salute Phillip and his board for taking such a noble decision to bring an end to the Asiagate scandal. As for my coming back into football, time will tell, but the truth is I am gainfully employed somewhere close,” Rushwaya said.
