The 160-page Asiagate report said some of the benefactors spent the money on luxurious vehicles such as Mercedes Benzes and visiting a striptease club. Some bought household goods with their gains from Asia and one player is said to have bought a house in Bulawayo.
The report delves in the shadowy world of match-fixing where there is no trust as the players were paid anything from US$3 000 – US$5 000 for throwing a match while at times they got nothing as the ring leaders ran away with the cash paid by the syndicates.
“The discrepancies of amounts paid are an indication that some were favoured recipients and may also be an indication that in retrospect people decided to connive but in the process being a letdown to those who have divulged the truth and the whole truth,” said the report.
In his submissions, former Warriors manager Enerst “Mapepa” Sibanda said, “During our first match (Merdeka Cup in Malaysia in 2007) we were paid our money at half-time and we were actually losing 2-0. We were told to concede another two goals in the second half. We were then paid US$1 000. After the game the players were paid US$1 000 each and US$1 400 to the technical team each.”
“Our head of delegation (in Singapore) was paying us the officials and this included the media personnel whilst Raja (Raj Wilson Perumal from the betting syndicate) was paying the players. Players were paid approximately between US$3 000 – US$4 000 and officials US$7 000. I was really shocked by these big monies, especially in that we were paid some good monies at half-time when we were losing and then also for failing to qualify for the quarter finals”.
Added Sibanda in his submission; “On our way back to Singapore, (Godfrey) Japajapa had a friend there and we went to his warehouse where I bought a Mercedes Benz for US$6 000. Japajapa and Sunday Chidzambwa also bought Mercedes Benz cars and Robson Sharuko bought household goods.”Sibanda said he had problems clearing the vehicle and had to sell it to recover his US$6 000.
The report said the match-fixing syndicates paid between US$30 000 – $50 000 per match which was then shared between players and officials. The probe team said they had discovered that the Warriors played 15 dirty games dating back to 2007 until 2010. One of the key witnesses Ernest Sibanda “alleged that he was there when three officials bought cars in Singapore with proceeds from what officials were paid. It is obvious amounts that were paid were substantial. One player Danisa Phiri is alleged to have used his proceeds to purchase a house in Bulawayo,” said the report.
The report said Sibanda gave a credible oral and written submission and it helped the committee in its cause and he showed remorse.
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The report said the sheer number of players “involved” is forbidding. It said the key witnesses interviewed were Methembe Ndlovu and Luke Masomere (coaches); Enerst Sibanda (manager); Cosmas Nyoni (referee); Cyril Mukweva, Solomon Makuvaro, Godfrey Japajapa (heads of delegation); Tendai Madzorera (former Zifa board member); and Hope Chizuzu and Sharuko (media). Some players like Method Mwanjali gave their written submissions in Asiagate 1. The report said Sunday Chidzambwa spurned invitations by the investigations committee.
The other witness alluded to receiving dirty money to throw away matches while others said they received allowances and saw nothing amiss in the matches.
