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Philani “Beefy” Ncube

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
SUSPENDED Bulawayo City technical members will on Monday appear before the club’s disciplinary committee facing charges of match-fixing.

A fortnight ago, City suspended four members of their technical team, including head coach Philani Ncube, over match-fixing allegations following leaked WhatsApp messages suggesting that the municipal team’s coaches wanted to “buy” results for their game against Border Strikers, which they won 1-0 in Beitbridge.

Ncube, his assistant Farai Mujokoro, goalkeepers’ coach Reginald Buhali and kit manager Gift Mvala have been frozen out of the club pending investigations and an interim technical team made up of Try Ncube and Barry Daka is in charge of the squad.

Acting City chief executive officer MacKenzie Moyo confirmed that the quartet has been summoned to appear before their disciplinary committee.
Coach Ncube and the goalkeepers’ trainer Buhali have been cleared of bribery allegations, while Mujokoro and Mvala appeared in the Beitbridge courts yesterday.

“Bulawayo City doesn’t take lightly the issues of match-fixing that were levelled against some members of the technical team and as such, they’re going to appear before our disciplinary committee next week. Police cleared coach (Philani) and Buhali, but still they wait for PSL to conclude the match-fixing investigations. It is only after the PSL has concluded their process and after the DC’s findings that we will know the fate of the individuals involved,” said Moyo.

The disciplinary committee is made up of the club’s vice-chairman Zenzo Moyo, secretary-general Horace Ndubiwa and three committee members Prince Butshe-Dube, Rodney Jele and Phineas Ndlovu.

Mujokoro is being accused of attempting to bribe Strikers’ goalkeeper Talent Sande with $300 to let them win the game by five goals.

According to WhatsApp messages allegedly between Mujokoro and Sande, the money was supposed to be collected by Sande’s sister from City kit manager Mvala.

However, Mvala walked into a trap before kick-off when he allegedly handed the money to Strikers’ treasurer Gift Jera, who was in the company of a woman posing as Sande’s sister.

The matter was reported to the police before kick-off.

PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said investigations are underway.

“The parties involved submitted reports last week which the relevant board has been studying as part of the investigations. I think if you can check with us tomorrow I’ll be able to tell you what direction the matter is taking,” said Ndebele.

@ZililoR