Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Augustine Hwata
11 February 2005
Harare — ZIFA have hit back at the Premier Soccer League, saying the top-flight league is to blame for the delays being encountered in resolving several disciplinary cases which are still outstanding from the 2004 season.
Rafik Khan, the Zifa chairman, yesterday said the PSL were at fault in the delayed disciplinary cases.
"The problem in the delays to those cases lies with the Premier Soccer League themselves.
"They (PSL) are not being genuine enough with regards to the cases that are before the appeals committee.
"We have told them that they should bring all the relevant files and information needed by the committees but they are not doing so.
"How then does the appeals committee sit over the cases when there is only half of the details needed?
"They certainly will not do anything," said Khan.
The Zifa appeals committee are sitting on about seven PSL cases that have been brought to them through the office of the chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze.
In one of the cases Harare giants Dynamos have appealed against the $15 million fine slapped on them for disturbances which occurred after their match against Railstars at Gwanzura last season.
Dembare have also appealed against the $20 million fine for disturbances at the match against Shabanie at Maglas.
Motor Action have a case at the ad hoc committee against the appeals committee ordering a re-match in the tie against Amazulu which failed to take place at Sakubva.
Former Eiffel Flats goalkeeper Lovemore Makwavarara is still waiting to hear the outcome of his six-month ban for allegedly urinating on the field at Rufaro last year.
Khan said by blaming Zifa for the delays the PSL wanted to shift attention from the real issues that the league was supposed to tackle.
He said PSL should resolve the problem between the new league sponsors Econet Wireless and rival cellular network firm NetOne who are bankrolling league champions CAPS United.
"The league has a potentially major problem which they have to deal with at the moment than accusing us of being slow.
"There are these sponsorship deals which the PSL should resolve quickly so that everyone gets the correct picture instead of them concentrating on blasting us.
"As Zifa we are closely watching these sponsorship rows unfolding.
"We are the custodians of football in this country and we should see that football is run professionally.
"This is the fourth time that PSL have made an unwarranted and unchallenged attack and we really took exception this time.
"So they should resolve at least the sponsorship problem haunting them before we move in and we are not going to be invited if it takes very long for them to sort it out," said Khan.
The Zifa chairman was one of the key figures in domestic football who did not attend the ceremony at which the PSL and Econet Wireless signed their landmark deal.
Sports Commission officials, who also did not attend the ceremony, have since written to the PSL offering their apologies for missing the function and congratulating the league on securing the blockbuster deal.
While the PSL are securing record sponsorship packages, Zifa have no official sponsor and have been bailed out by the Government on a number of occasions recently.
Khan said the PSL wanted to raise their profile by attacking Zifa.
"PSL should put their house in order first before hammering us. They cannot raise their profile through us," said Khan.
Although pointing out that PSL were to blame for the delays, Khan also put some blame on his association, especially in cases involving the lower divisions.
"The cases from Division One are being looked into and guys at the office are working on that right now," he said.
Khan, however, called for collective efforts to bring changes in football administration in this country.
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