Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Petros Kausiyo
7 January 2009
Harare — PREMIERSHIP side Lancashire Steel will have to overcome allegations of a bribery scandal that rocked their camp this week when they square off against ambitious Eagles in a decisive promotion/relegation play-off showdown at Rudhaka this afternoon.
The Lancashire dressing room has been rocked by serious allegations that some of their players were involved in underhand dealings in which they were paid to throw away their game against Eastern Lions on the final day of the season.
Lancashire, who had been on a roll in their survival bid going on a seven-match unbeaten run, were left a stunned lot after they fell 1-0 at Baghdad on the final day of the season.
That defeat meant Eastern Lions survived while Lancashire were left to fight another day by featuring in the play-offs in their bid to retain their Premiership status.
The Lancashire management, who have been viewing their defeat to Lions with suspicion, have since reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, whom club chairman Tendai Hove said were finalising their investigations with a view to bringing the matter to court.
Hove, however, declined to reveal much about the players involved in the scam for "fear of jeopardising investigations".
"What I can confirm is that there are some allegations that are under investigation involving some of our players and by Friday we should have a clear indication.
"Police are carrying out their investigations and once all the loose ends have been tied and the matter is ready for the courts, we will issue a full statement with the names of the culprits.
"We are doing this to promote Fair Play not only in the club, but in the league and we hope when the matter has been finalised and if there are parties found guilty, the PSL will also take some action to sanction the culprits," Hove said.
With the Lancashire chairman not yet revealing much on the bribery scam, it was not immediately clear by last night whether any of the players implicated are taking part in the ongoing play-offs.
Hove, however, insisted that the investigations had helped strengthen the resolve of the rest of their players to overcome the challenges of Eagles, Mwana Africa and Shabanie Mine in the battle for the remaining Premiership slot.
"If anything, the investigations have motivated the rest of the team to fight on and maybe that is why we have been doing well so far in the play-offs," Hove said.
But away from the problems that have rocked their boat, Lancashire travel to Marondera today knowing that a defeat at the hands of Eagles will hand the professionally run Eastern Region Division One outfit the initiative in the Premiership play-offs.
Lancashire and Eagles share the same number of points -- seven -- but the Kwekwe steelmen are in pole position courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Innocent Chogugudza's men have done well to bounce back from the setback of losing to Lions on the last day of the Premiership season to lead the play-offs race, albeit by the narrowest of margins, a plus two goal difference.
Chogugudza's side has scored 11 goals, including the 5-2 hammering of hapless Mwana Africa at Trojan Mine, and conceded five while Eagles, who are also unbeaten, have fired eight goals and let in four.
In their first meeting in the opening game of the play-offs, Eagles took a 2-0 half-time lead before allowing Lancashire to come back and force a draw when scoring twice in the last 20 minutes of the encounter.
That 2-2 draw and the fact that both sides have turned the play-offs into a two-horse race has set the stage for a potentially explosive encounter at Rudhaka today.
Both sides would not normally hog the limelight in the domestic game, but today's match has created so much interest within the football fraternity, Rudhaka is likely to be packed to the brim.
Former Chapungu coach Chogugudza admitted that their showdown with Eagles would be decisive in the battle for the last slot in the 16-team Premiership, but said he had demanded that his charges remain calm and focused ahead of the clash.
"We share the same opinion with the football family that this is a critical game in the race to win the play-offs.
"But we cannot afford to put ourselves under pressure. We have to play our normal game because with football, every game is different and we need to just focus on this game and forget about all the other matches that we have played and all the big wins that we have recorded against Mwana Africa and Shabanie.
"My players know what is at stake and that it is good for them to remain in the Premiership and I think that is the biggest motivating factor they have," said Chogugudza.
The Lancashire coach was, however, under no illusion about the danger posed by an Eagles side that is eager to complete a fairy-tale run in the play-offs and see their dream of top-flight football become a reality.
"We have to respect Eagles, they are a good team and we are expecting a tough afternoon from them."
Eagles will go into battle needing to preserve their fine record at Rudhaka.
Mike Madzivanyika's youthful side are still to taste defeat in either friendly or competitive encounters at their favourite hunting ground in Marondera in three years.
They will arrive at the home venue in the biggest match of their short history knowing that a victory of any margin will put them within touching distance of the elite group of local clubs.
Madzivanyika, as cool a coach as they come, maintained yesterday that despite noting the significance of the game, Eagles were not giving any special treatment to Lancashire.
"All the games in these play-offs are equally important and on our part there has been no special preparation for this particular match.
"We have prepared the way we prepared for the other games and even though we take time to reflect on the previous meeting with Lancashire, we have not seen them play in their last two games so we might plan on the wrong team," Madzivanyika said.
Eagles should welcome back skipper and defender Simba Nyakope and speedy forward Gift Phiri, who missed Saturday's 3-1 win over Mwana Africa.
But Nyakope and his defenders would have to keep a close eye on free-scoring Lancashire striker Tongai Magwendere, who has struck six of their 11 goals in these play-offs.
The former Zimasco forward, who thrives on aggressive play, is also the leading scorer in the play-offs. It promises to be a rare afternoon of explosive football in Marondera.
Elsewhere, Mwana Africa, still searching for their first point of the play-offs, will host Shabanie at Trojan Mine.
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