Zimpapers Logo

Arthur Maphosa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) Masvingo province allegedly swept a case of age cheating levelled against girls’ provincial Under-15 Copa Coca-Cola winners Mwenezi High School under the carpet.

The stunning revelations surfaced yesterday in leaked correspondence ahead of the national finals that kick-off in Bindura today.

The Nash Masvingo head-in-charge of soccer T Z Mbwirire of Mashoko High School allegedly suppressed the matter despite Rufaro High School producing identity documents proving that Mwenezi High player Tanyaradzwa Mukuna was actually 18 years old.

Mukuna is even registered with Harare-based Division One outfit Field Rulers.

Mbwirire claimed in a hand written response to the complaint that the Rufaro High School deputy headmaster had withdrawn the appeal.

“Your deputy head withdrew the appeal when we were still at Gutu High,” Mbwirire wrote.

According to documents produced by Rufaro High as evidence in their letter of complaint, Mukuna was born on June 20, 1999, and she actually played for Mwenezi in the Under-20 tournament a week before the Under-15 finals.

“Tanyaradzwa played in the Under-20 Nash competitions held at Gwindingwi on June 30 using her national identity card. There is no way she can suddenly turn 14 barely a week later on July 7. The team photos used by Mwenezi High School in both competitions can be used to verify this unethical practice. Tanyaradzwa is a registered player with a Harare club called Field Rulers. She was registered as early as 2015. She also played in the Under-17 Nash finals in 2015 when she was still at Seke High School in Chitungwiza alongside some pupils at Rufaro High School who transferred to the school and can identify her physically,” reads an excerpt of the Rufaro High letter of complaint signed by a C Tandi (team manager), T Chademana (head coach), K Maromo (assistant coach) and school head a J Shumbanhete dated July 11.

Mukuna’s national identity number, her Zifa Northern Region licence for 2015 as well as the 2017 season expiring on December 31, 2017, bearing the same national identity number is attached to the letter of complaint.

“It is not in dispute that Tanyaradzwa played against our team and as a result we were denied a golden opportunity to win at provincial level.

“We complained to the match official, Mr Masheka and our head-in-charge Mr Chikomo, who instructed us to play under protest and promised that our issue will be handled fairly and professionally in accordance with the rules of the tournament.

“Tanyaradzwa was wearing jersey number 6 (and find attached her photo marked annexure C and D). It is for the above reasons that we strongly believe that Mwenezi High School deliberately violated the Nash and tournament rules and denied Rufaro High an opportunity to be the eventual winners of the tournament,” reads the letter.

After their complaint was dismissed by the Nash Masvingo provincial leadership, the school wrote a letter of complaint to the national executive on July 12 referenced “Complaint against denial of justice by Nash executive in Masvingo province between Rufaro High School and Mwenezi Government High School”.

However, Nash national vice-president Arthur Maphosa yesterday said he had not seen the complaint letter, but expressed sadness over the increasing number of cheating cases.

“I honestly have not seen the letter, but it’s sad that we have such cases. It has the potential of scaring away our delicate sponsors. For your information, in Matabeleland South we just disqualified Sabiwa High School over similar charges and the province will now be represented by losing finalists Mzingwane High School,” said Maphosa. — @skhumoyo2000.