The revelations about the trip come barely a month after Zifa released the Asiagate report, which revealed that the Warriors were paid to throw away matches during their controversial tours to several Asian countries.
In a scandal similar to “Asiagate”, a team known as “Zimbabwean Clubs or Select Team” hitch-hiked to South Africa and participated in a tournament known as Discovery Cup in Soweto without the authority of the Sports and Recreation Commission and Zifa.
The players, handpicked by Dhlakama for the Soweto tournament, included top premiership players like goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, Daniel Kamunhenga, Solomon Nyangwaya, Edmore Chitato, Tendai Nyamadzawo, and Martin Vengesai. Dribbling wizard Hasmonia Ziso, Talent Maphosa and Tapiwa Khumbuyani were also part of the squad. Former Chapungu winger Collins Mahara assisted Dhlakama on the bench.
The players were contacted by telephone by Dhlakama and promised an appearance fee of R2 000 each before travelling to South Africa by road. The team managed to reach the finals of the Discovery Cup but missed out on the top prize of R80 000 and a Toyota Quantum after going down to South African club Trab Zone 1-0.
The “Zimbabwe Select” received R20 000 as the losing finalists, an amount which is now at the centre of the dispute.
The aggrieved players have made a report to the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) asking them to assist in recovering their outstanding R2 000 appearance fees and bonuses from Dhlakama.
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The players said they also struggled to return home from South Africa as the organiser of the Discovery Cup known to the players as “Pastor” was refusing to give them bus fares unless they played in another tournament.
The players started coming back home after Christmas with the last batch arriving in the country in the new year penniless.
In two separate letters in possession of Standardsport, the pla-yers narrated their harrowing ordeal during the tournament in South Africa from December 15 – 21. The unsanctioned trip would have probably been out of the public domain had the players been paid on their return.
“We kindly ask you to help us recover our funds from Rodwell Dhlakama for the Discovery Cup in South Africa. We were promised appearance fees of R2 000 each, good accommodation and winning bonuses. Surprisingly we never got anything from him (Rodwell Dhlakama) and we only received R50 meant for food,” wrote one of the players to FUZ.
The other player complained about the false promises by Dhlakama and having to endure sub-standard accommodation in Soweto.
“We were tricked into travelling to SA (South Africa) by Rodwell Dhlakama on the pretext that we were to receive appearance fees and allowances fees upon arrival. However, none of the promised fees materialised, rather we had to scavenge for food since it was scarce.
“The accommodation was sub-standard as compared to what we had been promised and we had to sleep on mattresses with protruding spring wires.“Even coming back home was a challenge for us as the organiser “Pastor” was not willing to give us the bus fare unless we played another tournament for him,” wrote one of the players.
In a letter to Dhlakama dated January 18, which was also copied to the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association, FUZ said they were disappointed by Dhlakama’s conduct.
“We are in receipt of two letters of complaint from players who claim that you travelled or made travel arrangements for them to play in a soccer tournament in South Africa called the Discovery Cup tournament in which you were the coach.
“The said players claim that you promised them appearance fees, winning bonuses and proper upkeep during the tournament which was never fulfilled.”
