Betting gangs target Warriors

Sport
BY FANUEL VIRIRI Betting syndicates have targeted the Zimbabwe Warriors at the African Nations Championships in Khartoum, Sudan and Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) is running around to hedge the team against any contact with the shadowy gangs.  

The Asian betting syndicates are understood to have approached the Warriors, who opened their Group B Nations Championships campaign with a tie against Niger in Mehdani last night.

 

The betting syndicates’ cover was blown by the Sudan Embassy, who informed Zifa that some people with the past links to the association had tried to secure visas under the pretext that they  were “Warriors consultants”.

 

The “consultants” claimed they were working for a company called Explosive Sports. It could not be established if the “consultants” had been granted the visas to travel to the tournament.

Jonathan Mashingaidze, the acting Zifa chief executive officer said they were on high alert following the information received from the Sudan Embassy.“We received information that some people claiming to be Warriors consultants had tried to secure visas. Some of these people are currently suspended by Zifa and we strongly believe they could be part of the betting syndicates.

“We have informed the team in Sudan to be on high alert for the betting syndicates because the team has been targeted. Let me hasten to say that the Warriors do not have consultants and neither do we have player agents acting on behalf of Zifa in Sudan,” Mashingaidze said.

Several illegal online soccer gambling syndicates in Asia had put the Zimbabwe versus Niger match last night online and punters have been putting their bets. The betting syndicates target low profile teams like Zimbabwe, whose players are also tempted by the money that is offered to throw away matches.

The Warriors have over the years become an easy prey of Asian betting syndicates. The senior national team has for the last four years been travelling to Asia where they were paid to throw away matches.

The security during the Warriors training camp in the capital was not tight and anyone could sneak into the player’s hotel rooms. The situation is the same at Imperial Hotel in Mehdani where the team is staying.

Zimbabwe have been pooled in Group B which has interested betting syndicates. They are grouped with some of the continent’s top teams like Ghana and South Africa.