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Callisto Pasuwa

Sports Reporter

THE national Under-23 football team coach Callisto Pasuwa on Tuesday clarified the national team captaincy issue amid questions from the media why Wisdom Mutasa voted as the captain of the national team in the Ballon d’Or.

Responding to questions from the media, Pasuwa was quoted on the official Zifa website saying the appointment and demotion of team captains was the prerogative of the technical team hence Mutasa and not Ronald Pfumbidzai had voted.

“Wisdom Mutasa is the current captain of the Under-23 national team which is currently fulfilling all senior national team duties hence he had every right to vote in the Ballon d’Or as the senior national team captain.

“The appointment of the team captain is the prerogative of the coach therefore all the hullabaloo is uncalled for since nothing is amiss,” said Pasuwa.

Pfumbidzai was the skipper during the Olympic side’s final assignment of 2014 against Morocco with Mutasa absent due to club commitments.

Every year, the world football governing body, Fifa, honours the player who would have performed above the rest in world football and the voting process allows national team coaches and captains to vote.

Real Madrid winger Ronaldo won 37.66 percent of the total votes, ahead of Lionel Messi who was second with 15.76.

The Barcelona man just edged Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, who had 15.72 percent and Arjen Robben was fourth with 7.17.
The award ceremony was held in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday evening.