Zimpapers Logo

Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
IS this football’s ultimate marriage-made-in-hell, fierce foes who battled in opposite trenches a few months ago, including labelling the other party a “bunch of vampires,” “criminals” and “sycophants”, now coming together to fight a common battle?

Revelations that former ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze has gone into partnership with veteran football administrators, Francis Zimunya and Chris Sambo, to try and topple the current domestic football leadership, led by Philip Chiyangwa, have painted a grim picture of football’s ultimate marriage-made-in-hell.

Last week ZIFA vice president Omega Sibanda filed a report at Harare Central Police Station, reference number IR070025, accusing Zimunya, Sambo and Mashingaidze of allegedly teaming up to gain unlawful entrance into ZIFA House in a brazen attempted boardroom coup.

Mashingaidze revealed last week, in an interview with our sister newspaper, The Sunday Mail, that he was pushed to front a bid to stop ZIFA’s dissolution —which is led by Zimunya and Sambo — by the need to recover over the $85 000 he claims he is owed by the Association which did not pay him his salary for months during his time as chief executive officer.

He has also filed an application at the High Court.

“I am personally owed the sum of US$85 338,81 in arrears (salaries) as at end of April 2016, when I ceased to be an employee of ZIFA,” Mashingaidze said in the application filed by his lawyer Pauline Kadembo.

“I also aver that on top of the non-compliance with the constitution the decision by the respondents to dissolve ZIFA and form NAFAZ was done in bad faith and is against the tenants of natural justice, public policy and labour laws.

“The dissolution of ZIFA was designed to evade obligations to creditors and employees especially considering that the new association NAFAZ excluded itself from any of ZIFA’s liabilities and did not take over the ZIFA employees, most of which are the applicants.”

But how has it been possible that Mashingaidze can find common ground with Zimunya and Sambo and form an alliance to fight a common cause?

How has the animosity, which clearly existed between the two parties just a few months ago, leading Mashingaidze to describe Zimunya and Sambo as a “bunch of vampires,” “criminals” and “sychophants” — who had no place in the management of domestic football — melted away just like that?

Mashingaidze, who was fighting in Dube’s corner, sent a circular to the ZIFA Assembly members in January last year, in the heat of the boardroom battles which even spilled into the corridors of world football governing body FIFA.

“It is sad to note that some individuals with criminal records have conspired to lead a relentless campaign to unseat a democratically elected football leadership under Dr Cuthbert Dube,” Mashingaidze wrote in his circular which was also sent to FIFA.

“The group, led by Mr Francis Nyamutsamba (Zimunya) is pushing for the removal of the current Board and Assembly and are pressurising a number of offices to come to their aid.

“A petition was put together last December and ghost (petitioners) were put on the document. This group of sycophants has also been colluding with some members of the family of football and FIFA are currently monitoring the developments from a distance.

“Mr Nyamutsamba (Zimunya) has been previously banned from football for leading a failed vote-of-no-confidence against the Rafik Khan (ZIFA Board).

“Mr Nyamutsamba transgressed football statutes on occasions too numerous to mention.

“His lieutenant, Mr Chris Sambo, was sacked by the Premier Soccer League for dishonesty. The family of football should protect football from such vampires.

“There has been a disturbing trend of communication as evidenced by direct communication by some individuals with CAF, FIFA and Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture.

“Such conduct brings football into disrepute and the aforementioned principals have already complained about such conduct.”

So, what has changed now that a group of people, which Mashingaidze daringly described as “sycophants”, “criminals” and “vampires”, have become honourable individuals, after just a few months, that the former ZIFA chief executive can now go into bed with them and fight for a common cause?

If Zimunya is someone who has “transgressed football statutes on occasions too numerous to mention”, as Mashingaidze claimed in that circular, how come he has now turned into a virtual saint that the former ZIFA chief executive is now prepared to work very closely with him?

If Sambo is a man who “was sacked by the Premier Soccer League for dishonesty,” as Mashingaidze claimed in that circular as he called on “the family of football (to protect the game) from such vampires”, how has he suddenly transformed into a virtual saint that the former ZIFA chief executive is now prepared to call him an ally and work closely with him?

If Mashingaidze is a man who believed that Zimunya and Sambo were horrible characters who should not be allowed near domestic football administration, as can be seen from his circular, how has it been possible that, after just a few months, the duo now believe that the former ZIFA chief executive holds them in high esteem to become partners in their boardroom battles?

Doesn’t this possibly give us an indication, if ever we needed one, that principles are a rare value when it comes to domestic football and — depending on where one’s bread is being buttered — even those who don’t trust each other can come together and battle in the same corner?

And, if that is the case, doesn’t that send a bold and disturbing message to the game’s fans and also its corporate partners, that integrity is not a password for leadership when it comes to the people who are entrusted to provide the management of the national game?