Chiyangwa plays on Asiagate Phillip Chiyangwa
Phillip Chiyangwa

Phillip Chiyangwa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
PHILLIP Chiyangwa has promised to lift suspensions that were given to suspected Asiagate culprits if he is voted into office in the December 5 Zifa elections. Describing himself as a virgin in football administration, Chiyangwa told a Press conference soon after launching his manifesto at a Harare hotel on Saturday night that football should not be used as a tool to fight personal wars.

“That thing was not done properly and yes, once I am in office, I will lift those suspensions. Of course, we might have to look at some of the cases because there are some people that really deserved to be banished, but generally most of those suspended were just innocent victims,” said Chiyangwa.

He also pledged to bring together the two rival national soccer supporters’ associations, one led by Lynn Green and the other by Eddie Chivero. The association led by Green was aligned to former Zifa boss Cuthbert Dube while the Chivero camp was anti-Dube and has now sworn its allegiance to Chiyangwa.

“I know no camps. The 12th man is a very important part in this game of football and therefore my tenure will see no such camps; we are all one family,” said Chiyangwa. The Asiagate scandal saw close to 100 players and officials being slapped with varying sanctions ranging from two year suspensions to life bans.

The sanctions were, however, not recognised by Fifa, a situation that saw some accused players plying their trade outside the country continuing with their careers, with only those playing in Zimbabwe such as Dynamos’ Guthrie Zhokinyu serving the sentences, although some have since been lifted.

On page 17 of his 18-page manifesto, Chiyangwa says football is a powerful tool for rebuilding relationships. “Football in particular teaches us respect, honour, fair play and acceptance of diversity. It takes no rocket scientist to know that football is a team sport, which brings together people of different backgrounds, race and gender. It is therefore imperative that we learn to love and embrace each other.

“Over the years I have watched and followed in the Press how our football has become polarised to the detriment of the same, how our executive committee had become toxic and divided, how our council had different camps, how our women’s football had cultivated such hatred and animosity for each other,” says Chiyangwa.

He said by virtue of not having been involved in personality clashes, he was therefore the right person to lead Zifa. “I believe I’m the right person, by virtue of not having been involved in personality clashes to lead a deliberate conversation of healing and reconciliation, to lead and bring together players, coaches, government, affiliates, corporate, fans, the secretariat and my board to a common understanding that we need each other,” said Chiyangwa.

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