ZIFA have finally released the remainder of the Asiagate punishments with the association yesterday giving virtually all the players a second chance to continue with their careers and pardoning coach Joey Antipas and former Warriors manager Ernest “Mapepa” Sibanda.
There was no reprieve, though, for former Warriors’ coach Norman Mapeza, whose six-month ban was enforced without being converted into a suspended sentence or a fine, despite being found not guilty of match-fixing by the Zifa Independent Ethics Committee that investigated the Asiagate scandal.
The association also handed Monomotapa director and Northern Region chairman Solomon Mugavazi with a five-year ban, throwing into doubt the future of the modest Premiership side and 2012 Mbada Diamonds Cup runners-up.
Ironically, Monomotapa are also one of four teams whose names Zifa are looking at submitting to the Confederation of African Football for the Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions by Friday.
Journalist Josh Munthali, who works for ZBC and had a five-year ban hanging on his head as per the recommendations of the Ethics Committee for being part of the crew that was at the Merdeka Cup, appears to have escaped without sanctions according to the list released yesterday.
But, in what appears to be a major climbdown on the tough stance they had taken when they announced the first batch of penalties, Zifa handed suspended sentences to a host of players who took part in the controversial tours to Asia.
Unlike last month when they imposed life bans in such players like Method Mwanjali, Thomas Sweswe, Edmore Sibanda and Guthrie Zhokinyi, Zifa this time even handed the remainder of the players, coaches and officials implicated wholly suspended sentences and in some cases an option of a fine for their roles in the match-fixing scam.
Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, announced the remainder of the bans in a press statement and indicated that those willing to appeal would also have to do so by the association’s set deadline of November 30.
There was also a huge reprieve, though, for Motor Action coach and former Warriors assistant Antipas and the senior team’s former manager Sibanda who got away with wholly suspended five-year sentences, making them eligible to continue with their football careers without paying a cent for a fine.