Zifa have quickly moved in to deny allegations that they are not battling to pay the seven-member committee, but sources say the association’s arrears have accrued to more than US$40 000. While the number of times the committee has sat so far could not be immediately established, each member is said to be entitled to US$1 000 per sitting, which has severely suffocated Zifa’s meager coffers. Fifa have availed US$28 million for their war against match-fixing globally, but Zifa are yet to access the funds which they have since applied for.
“It appears the men investigating the Asiagate are demotivated because Zifa is failing to pay them. They are now hoping that Ashford Mamelodi (Fifa development officer) will come to their rescue, but that is very unlikely,” said a source.
“Last month, one member of the Ethics Committee even went to South Africa to interview some players based in that country but he returned home having done nothing. Safa (South African Football Association) had offered an office at their headquarters where the interviews were supposed to be conducted but Zifa expected them to do all the work including calling players for them.
“Zifa had made no transport and accommodation arrangements for their dispatch as they wholly depended on Safa to provide all that. Safa made it clear that their assistance was limited.”
But Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze quashed the claims saying the committee was being paid on time.
“It is not true that we are failing to pay the Independent Committee because we have various ways of paying all our committees. How would they sit without being paid?” asked Mashingaidze.
Fifa recommendations were that the Asiagate chapter would be closed by March, before Zifa set itself the April deadline which they have again failed to beat.
This has spilled beyond Fifa’s February to April amnesty period where players were urged to avail themselves and voluntarily provide requisite information without facing any reprisal. Mashingaidze said last week some players including Energy Murambadoro, Lincoln Zvasiya and Edward Sadomba had assisted with information before they appeared for formal hearings.
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“The problem is that in May we had some Kaizer Chiefs players telling us that they would come with Bobby Motaung to give their evidence but that failed. Now we are calling them to come to Zifa offices and present their cases,” Mashingaidze said. Swaziland-based coach Rodwell Dhlakama was also last week expected to appear before the Ethics Committee as well as former Warriors fitness trainer Thompson Matenda.
