…Chiyangwa’s $1m deal details emerge
Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa’s benefactor Wicknell Chivayo has boasted that the $1 million he pledged to oil the businessman’s tenure at the helm of local football is just “petty cash” for him.
By Brian Nkiwane
Chivayo, a flamboyant Harare businessman, last week made waves when he made the donation that is curiously tied to Chiyangwa’s presidency. He opened up to Standardsport after the nature of the contract was criticised and maintained that he had a personal relationship with Chiyangwa.
“To us, that money is like petty cash, so we will not spend much of our time, which should be spent on planning the next move to get more money, trying to authenticate papers. No,” Chivayo said.
Known as Sir Wicknell in social circles, Chivayo — a flamboyant socialite — on Wednesday paid the first installment of $50 000 of the agreed payment to settle a debt owed to former Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet.
Zimbabwe, booted out of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers over another debt to former Warriors gaffer José Claudinei Georgini popularly known as Valinhos, had been ordered to pay Sainfiet before January 4 2016 or again risk missing out of the 2022 World Cup.
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According to the payment plan, Zifa is now set to pay the next installment of $50 000 by January 31, with the last installment of $84 000 set to be paid before March 31 2016.
“I had wanted to make a once- off payment of $184 000, but it’s [Zifa president Phillip] Chiyangwa who stopped me and asked the lawyers to accept a payment plan. The reason being that the Warriors will be going to Rwanda, which needs urgent attention rather than spending the money on the revival project of seven years to come. We still have time for 2022 while we no longer have time to prepare for Chan.” Chivayo said.
After servicing the Saintfiet debt, Chivayo stressed that the remainder of the money from the $1m pledge would be channeled towards Zifa business, but only as long as Chiyangwa is still at the helm of the association.
Chivayo said he pledged the money before Chiyangwa won the Zifa presidency early this month.
It all started as mere conversation and word of mouth promises at some tyre-selling place in Harare a few weeks ago, but it has evolved to become a concrete blueprint designed to rescue Zimbabwean football.
“This started as a discussion with my brother Phillip, who is my business partner. I met him at some place where we were having our cars attended to. By then, he was in full swing campaigning to land the Zifa post and I told him openly that if he won, I would give him $1m to assist in the running of football. He was not surprised by my words because we come a long way together,” Chivayo said.
He added: “Chiyangwa actually wanted me to give him that money even before he had won the election, but I told him point blank to win the elections first then I would give him the money. If I had given him the money, it was going to appear as if I had bought votes for him, which is one thing that I did not want to happen. I challenged him to use his own means to win the elections first after which the money would be his.”
After watching Chiyangwa beat other Zifa presidential candidates, Chivayo said he was convinced that as a patriotic Zimbabwean, he had a mandate to also come in and save the situation.
“I know very well that Chiyangwa is in there to leave a legacy. I will not be giving this money to anyone else [but Chiyangwa]. I have since communicated with Saintfeit’s lawyers that I have taken over payment of the debt,” he said. Chivayo said Chiyangwa was like a brother to him.
“Chiyangwa and I come a long way. We are like business brothers. We have big money projects that we will be doing together this coming year. So as a business partner, I decided to chip in and give a helping hand, with a business future in mind though,” Chivayo said.
He expressed disappointment over how football fans reacted to the news that he had pledged to pay the Sainfiet debt.
“It is so disheartening to say the least. One person in a million decides to save the situation and instead of standing up and buzz, people start hurling insults at me. Yes, the document might appear as if it’s not real, but money will exchange hands whether you like it or not. Look, we have started paying, what will those people say now? said Chivayo.
He added; “As business people, we don’t need paper work all the time. The reason why Chiyangwa did not doubt my word of mouth is because he knew I have money and I can give him the kind of money I promised. To us, that money is like petty cash, so we will not spend much time which should be spent on planning the next move to get more money on trying to authenticate papers, No.”
He called upon other business people and the corporate world to join hands in the quest to revive Zimbabwean football.
“It will be refreshing to see other business people taking up such challenges. In no time; the Zifa debt will be gone. I challenge the corporate world as well to join this war.”
Speaking from South Africa where he said he was getting medical attention, Chiyangwa said everything was done above board.
“I don’t see any reason why people should take offence on the authenticity of the document we signed. Is that the money? Has the first batch not yet been paid? So what’s the reason to panic?” questioned Chiyangwa.
Zifa board member Edzai Kasinauyo also weighed in and said: “This is about football revival, especially the World Cup. This will bring hope to the nation, fans and players, so we need more Wicknells to clear all out debts.”
