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Dynamos, CAPS Utd in dilemma
By Roy Matiki
HARARE soccer giants Dynamos and CAPS United were in quandary last night amid fears in both camps that their campaign in the African Safari had been thrown into disarray by the Zifa Board’s decision to suspend chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya.
Rushwaya was suspended on Saturday to pave way for investigations into how the Warriors flew to Asia late last year without clearance from the Sports and Recreation Commission.
The Zifa chief executive has been working closely with Zimbabwe’s representatives in African continental club tournaments this year to try in their bid to raise funding for their campaign from the Government.
All four teams — Dynamos, CAPS United, Lengthens and Gunners — were scheduled to meet Government officials this week to follow up on a series of meetings held in the past months.
Dynamos yesterday said they were now likely to face complications in the wake of Rushwaya’s suspension and there were fears that they might not even be able to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo this week for their tie against FC Lupopo.
CAPS United, who are scheduled to host South African side Moroka Swallows this week, also expressed the same fears.
They called for Rushwaya’s suspension to be reversed.
There were also questions yesterday about the validity of the suspension because of the participation in the Zifa Board meeting of individuals whose status is yet to be ratified.
Sources last night said the incoming Zifa Board chairman for Southern and Central Regions could only participate in meetings of the new board scheduled to be in place after March 27 rather than be drawn into an indaba where the outgoing members were taking part.
A legal position on the issue is set to be spelt out today.
The Zifa Board suffered a huge setback when one of their major resolutions from Saturday’s meeting to bar elections of the new Zimbabwe Women Soccer national executive yesterday failed.
Mavis Gumbo beat Susan Chibhizhe for the post of national chairperson in an election held in Kwekwe yesterday.
There were questions on why the Zifa Board that has only two weeks left in office would try to make a major decision that has long-term effects on the administration of the game.
The participation of Northern Region chairman Solomon Mugavazi in Saturday’s meeting has also been questioned given the controversy that surrounded Monomotapa’s trip to Asia last year.
New Dynamos secretary Brian Kashangura yesterday painted a grim picture and indicated that they might fail to travel to the DRC for the African Champions League first round, first leg tie against FC Lupopo.
"We are facing a tricky situation as we need to raise airfares amounting to US$30 000, US$1 500 for departure taxes and allowances totalling US$15 000 and other emergency funds that gives a total figure of US$50 000.
"Tomorrow (today) Henrietta Rushwaya is supposed to accompany us and other teams participating in the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup to meet the Ministry of Finance to release the funds.
"According to Rushwaya, Dynamos’ allocation is US$73 000. When we took office on Friday last week we found out that Dynamos coffers were dry. Whoever took that diabolical decision needs to reverse it and bring back Rushwaya into office. We hope to wake up to the good news that Rushwaya has returned to work.
"As clubs representing Zimbabwe in continental football tournaments, we applaud Rushwaya for her tremendous work in making sure that we fulfil our fixtures.
"We were surprised by the indaba in Masvingo on Saturday.
"That meeting was unwarranted.
"There are more urgent matters that need to be dealt with rather than fighting personality issues at the expense of football," Kashangura said.
Kashangura said could not understand why with the Malaysia trip was brought up just two weeks before the crucial elections.
He indicated that if they felt there was a case, the Zifa Board should have suspended Rushwaya soon after the Warriors’ trip.
The new Dynamos secretary, who replaced Stan Kasukuwere, felt Rushwaya was being used as a scapegoat.
Kashangura also said that the decision by the Zifa Board members showed that they did not care about the plight of the clubs.
CAPS United chief executive Maxwell Mironga, whose team are playing in the Confederation Cup, said the decision to suspend Rushwaya was ill-timed as it put the preparations of the first round ties in jeopardy..
Mironga said in the wake of the latest developments, they would approach the people who made that decision to assist the clubs because their contact person had been suspended.
The CAPS United chief executive felt that Rushwaya did not deserve this kind of "ill-treatment" from the Zifa Board.
He said she had worked hard and had even persuaded service providers to help the clubs and settle their debts later.
In total, the Twine Phiri-owned side need to raise US$25 000 to meet the costs of hosting Moroka Swallows and the match officials.
A breakdown of the costs reveals that US$9 000 will go to cover accommodation and meals for the visitors and match officials.
Referees airfares will chew up US$6 000, officiating fees US$800, payments for the match officials US$2 250 while the local referee, who will be the fourth official, pockets US$300.
According to Mironga, CAPS United still owe service providers like hotels and travel agents some money from the preliminary round games.
Mironga appealed to Harare City Council and the police to reduce their rates. |
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