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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League has summoned Bulawayo City FC and two members of their technical team Farai Mujokoro and Gift Mvala for a disciplinary hearing in Harare next month to answer to bribery and match-fixing charges.

The charges arose from allegations by Border Strikers that City wanted to bribe their goalkeeper to win by more than three goals in a league match the Bulawayo side won 1-0 in Beitbridge.

Strikers are questioning why City rushed to suspend four members of their technical team, head coach Philani Ncube, his assistant Mujokoro, goalkeepers’ coach Reginald Buhali and kit manager Mvala over match-fixing allegations before they had complained.

Ncube and Buhali, who were cleared of criminal charges by the police, were not summoned by the PSL.

“We’re surprised that even before we complained formally Bulawayo City is reported to have suspended its officials.

“We believe the entire Bulawayo City team should be punished for bringing disrepute into the game as this suggests it is their modus operandi as we also believe that their coaches were acting on behalf of the team and Bulawayo City Council as a whole,” reads part of Strikers’ report sent to the PSL.

“With the current economic situation in the country, we don’t believe a coach can part ways with such a big amount of money for the benefit of an organisation as huge as Bulawayo City Council, but vice-versa it’s true.”

Mujokoro is being accused of attempting to bribe Strikers’ goalkeeper Talent Sande with $200 to let them win the game by more than three goals.

Sande alleged that he informed Strikers’ executive member Godfrey Jera about Mujokoro’s proposal and they agreed to trap the City assistant coach.

The Strikers player said he then demanded $400 and Mujokoro agreed to give him $300 before the game, $200 after the match and an extra $100 as a “token of appreciation”.

In an affidavit he submitted to the PSL, Sande said the money was given to Rumbidzai Munyai, who was in the company of Jera.

Strikers claim Munyai is wife to one of their officials and Mvala gave her the money thinking that she was Sande’s sister.

Mvala was arrested after the match at Dulivhadzimu while Mujokoro reportedly dodged police.

City, Mujokoro and Mvala are facing charges of breaching the PSL rules and regulations in terms of Order 31, which reads: “It is an act of misconduct on the part of an official of a club who; 31.2.2 For any corrupt, dishonest or unlawful purpose in connection with a game played under the auspices of the league, or in connection with the affairs of the league, gives, offers or promises, whether directly or indirectly, any inducement, reward or bribe of whatsoever nature, to anybody whomsoever.” – @ZililoR