ON November 13, 1861, an American priest, Reverend M R Watkinson sent a letter to the United States Treasury, petitioning the department to add a powerful statement that recognised “Almighty God in some form on our coins’’.

Watkinson’s argument was that this could be used “as a way of relieving the people from the ignominy of heathenism”, itself a barbaric practice where the presence of God, and the need to worship him, did not exist in their lives.

The phrase, “In God We Trust," has been the official United States motto, since its adoption in 1956, when it replaced the old one, “El pluribus unum”, which had been in existence since 1782 when the Great Seal of the US was created.

Such is its enduring appeal, and acceptance, that it cuts across religions — from Christianity to Judaism and from Hindus to Muslims — found in Psalms and Proverbs in the Bible, in two places in the Koran and in Islam it’s referred to as Tawakkul.

Many American public schools displayed framed posters of the motto, “In God We Trust”, after the 9 /11 terrorist attacks and in a number of states in America — including North and South Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Florida, Arizona — you can use it on special vehicle licence plates.

Given that the US currency has been a big part of us since our Zimbabwe dollar was forced out of circulation, to take a sabbatical, by the pressure of hyperinflation, I guess a lot of you guys have got used to seeing the phrase “In God We Trust” on the money in your wallets, pockets or when you make your transactions.

For Khama Billiat, the phrase “In God We Trust” has provided a shield for him, an escape from the storm triggered by reports in the South African media in the past week, where his image has been tainted by a graphic painting of him as someone who is allergic to the virtues of professionalism.

The South African media vultures have been all over him, feasting on a character which they claim is critically flawed, a prisoner to the lure of alcohol he even allegedly comes to training hopelessly drunk after partying all night the previous day.

In just a week, we have seen Khama being transformed from the Golden Boy, who was the face of the South African Premiership last year when he scooped all the top awards at the annual ceremony to honour the best footballer plying his trade in that country, into the ultimate Bad Boy of Super Diski.

The Super Diski version of Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne, the England superstar midfielder whose life and career were ruined by alcohol abuse and other vices, an athlete who isn’t only an insult to the professionalism expected of a player of his status, but one whose wild lifestyle is a cancer that should be removed from their game before it poisons their kids.

That’s why we have seen some of the newspapers championing the campaign, this week, for Khama to be sold, cast away somewhere in Saudi Arabia or Egypt, far away from their Mzansi, the land of the upright, the land where only model foreign footballers should be given the permit to play on their green football fields, dripping with purity, where monsters like Khama are a curse that should be exorcised.

With no public support coming from his club, Khama has been vulnerable and, in such a very difficult week, he has turned to an American motto hoping to find divine defence amid this media blitzkrieg.

And each and every message he has posted on his social media platforms has been attached with the phrase, “In God We Trust”, even turning to King David’s prayer in the book of Psalms for the Lord to look at his soul and remind him if, indeed, he was messing things up as was being suggested by those who have dedicated pages to his demonisation.

I AM NOT KHAMA’s ADVOCATE, BUT SOMETHING JUST DOESN’T ADD UP FOR ME

Khama’s attachment with negativity, from all those stories about his romantic associations with raunchy dancer Bev and being robbed at gunpoint in a shop in the early hours of the day when model professionals are expected to be in bed, have not helped the cause of those who have tried to jump to his defence.

I’m not Khama’s advocate because, unlike Peter Ndlovu, Moses Chunga or Benjani Mwaruwari, he isn’t someone I know very well even though my admiration for his unique talent knows no boundaries and my belief of his immense value to our Warriors’ cause has and will never be shaken.

It’s difficult for me to provide judgment on him as a person because, away from the football ring, I haven’t interacted with him a lot to provide me with enough material to have an informed position on how he is away from the spotlight that comes with the moments he spends on the football field either representing my country or his club.

Given he is someone who represents the Warriors with distinction, playing a leading role in the team — and by extension my country — as we ended a decade of waiting for a place at the Nations Cup finals, he is someone I have always wished well in his football career.

I am not a Mamelodi Sundowns fan in a league where no club appeals to me because of my preference for substance instead of theatre and for quality instead of comedy, but forced to find some remote love in Super Diski, I would grudgingly find it in the camp of the old lady called Orlando Pirates.

However, Khama’s magical feet — and Pitso Mosimane’s refreshing and successful mission to prove that African coaches aren’t inferior to their European or South American counterparts — has made me find a reason to celebrate the Brazilians’ success.

What I find a bit ironic, though, is the striking coincidence between the explosion of all these so-called dark chapters of Khama’s indiscretions and our Warrior’s refusal to be bullied into signing a contract extension at Sundowns.

The silence from his club who, ordinarily would be expected to support him, has fuelled speculation that this smear campaign is all part of a grand hatchet job from inside Mamelodi Sundowns to significantly damage Khama’s reputation or remind him who calls the shots in Mzansi football.
THE TOUCH OF INNOCENCE . . .
These two vintage pictures of Knowledge Musona (left) and Khama Billiat during their schoolboy days are worth their price in gold

These two vintage pictures of Knowledge Musona (left) and Khama Billiat during their schoolboy days are worth their price in gold

By standing his ground and exercising his rights it means, six months from now, he will be able to talk to potential suitors without them breaking any rules and regulations related to player transfers.

It also means he won’t be burdened by the weight of the crazy buyout clause that has turned him into a virtual prisoner at Sundowns and frustrated potential suitors who could have long plucked him out of Super Diski.

It also means his handlers can also negotiate a deal for himself with a potential suitor who doesn’t need to pay the repulsive buyout clause come July next year?

Of course, that amount is nothing for someone like Patrice Motsepe, the billionaire owner of Sundowns, but for those who earn their living telling the big boss that they have everything under control, employed specifically to ensure star players like Khama don’t get to the last six months without their contracts being extended, it means the world.

Will they tell the big boss that they slept on duty and the prized asset can now simply wait for the end of his contact and escape from the bondage that had characterised his stay with the club and make a lot of money for himself without the team being principal negotiators to where he goes from now onwards?

In South Africa that is dereliction of duty and some people have paid for that with their lives.

Why, I may ask, is that it has become common that any good player, deemed as a special investment by Sundowns, cannot divorce himself from the club without the process turning into a messy affair?

It was the same story with Keagan Dolly when he was courted by a Greek club before he eventually moved to France this year with Sundowns even claiming, at some stage, they had made an error in the buyout clause in the contract that they had signed with the player.

“When they were interested in Keagan‚ we as a family really didn’t want him to go back to Sundowns. Because we had struggled to get him out of Sundowns when he was a junior‚” Ramon Dolly, Keagan’s father, told the SABC at the height of the dispute.

Now, if a club as big as Sundowns, can have the temerity to tell the world that they made a mistake in the buyout figure they inserted in the contract they signed with a player like Dolly, when he tells them he wants to move, what else can they do — using friendly media organisations — to inflict considerable damage on a stubborn foreign boy who is refusing to be bullied?

Khama clearly isn’t a saint, but I don’t think he is the kind of devil they are portraying him to be either and it’s sad that, right now, he is the victim of a relentless and well-oiled machine that will batter him, from all angles, until he is either whipped into line — to sing the master’s song — or suffer severe reputational damage.

That is why, unlike others, we chose not to carry the stories coming from South Africa without testing them.


These two vintage pictures of Knowledge Musona (left) and Khama Billiat during their school boy days are worth their price in gold

IF KHAMA IS A DEVIL, WHAT ABOUT WARNER, ROOT, GERRARD AND COMPANY?

At 2am on June 13, 2013, in the Walkabout Bar in central Birmingham, Australian cricketer David Warner punched his English counterpart Joe Root in an altercation which the former claimed was sparked by the latter insulting Muslims, especially South African batsman Hashim Amla’s beard.

The cricketers had been drinking, in those early hours, and the incident made front page news in both the British and Australian newspapers.

Exactly two years later, in August 2015, Warner — who was accused of starting that infamous fracas — was appointed the vice-captain of the Australia cricket team, a position he still holds up today.

Four years after that incident, on February 13 this year, Root was appointed captain of the England cricket team.

“That incident did make me reassess things a bit,” Root told the Daily Mail. “You learn from those experiences and you try to make sure you don’t put yourself or your team-mates in similar scenarios.

“I still like to think I have a pretty good laugh with the other guys in the dressing room and still enjoy a beer and the odd night out. You have to enjoy winning and being part of a successful team, just being a young bloke.”

On 29 December, 2008, Liverpool star Steven Gerrard was arrested outside the Lounge Inn in Southport and charged, along with two others, with assault causing actual bodily harm after an attack, in a bar, which left a disc jockey with a broken tooth and cuts to his forehead.

Gerrard, the former England captain and one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, who had been drinking in the bar, is said to have been angered by the DJ’s refusal to play a particular song that he wanted.

He faced the possibility of five years in prison, if convicted, and although CCTV footage showed him delivering a series of punches at the DJ Marcus McGhee, a Manchester United fan, Gerrard pleaded not guilty saying he only hit him in self defence.

The jury acquitted him and, a few months later, he was named captain of the England football team.

The point I am making here is that while we expect, or probably demand, model footballers and sportspersons because they should set examples for our kids, it doesn’t always work that way because these guys are also human.

It’s not like I’m a supporter of footballers, or sportsmen, who frequent bars and fight in nightclubs.

But I am saying before we shouldn’t be selective in our condemnation of them, suggesting that Khama is the worst devil the game has ever known, and conveniently forgetting that better and higher profile players have done worse things than this boy and didn’t get half the savage media treatment our Warrior is getting in South Africa today.

After all, unlike Stevie G, Khama — who has this week been portrayed as probably the worst monster ever to roam a football field — has never been arrested for fighting in a bar, or dragged to court to answer charges of inflicting serious bodily harm on his victim.

If Khama is such a monster, then why did the same people who are today scavenging on his character, seemingly turn a blind eye when one of them, Jabu “Pule’’ Mahlangu was being devoured by alcohol while being portrayed as a model superstar on their back pages?

“I’ve never shied away from the fact that I come from a background of alcoholics. Alcohol was part of my life . . . fact,” said Mhlangu, in a refreshingly frank interview.

“I didn’t drink because I became famous, noooo. I grew up drinking while I was becoming famous.’’

What about Lovers Mohlala, what about Steve Lekoelea, what about Masibusane Zongo, the one they told us had the wizardry of Cristiano Ronaldo, what about Mbulelo Mabizela, the one who once played for Tottenham before it started going downhill?

They will probably say they don’t want it to happen to Khama too, fair and fine, but why extend that touch of concern now — given they are telling us he was having similar problems even during his days at Ajax — when the boy has chosen to stand up against the Sundowns’ machinery?

It just doesn’t add up, if you ask me, and I might be wrong — which is human — but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I won’t join that Zimbabwean, in a comment on Khama’s Facebook post this week, described him as a Malawian simply because some sections of the South African media have ganged up against him.

Keep praying Khama, the Devil is a Liar and, you right mate, In God We Trust!

To God Be The Glory

Come on Warriors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Khamaldinhoooooooooooooooo!

Romario won it in 1994. It was the turn of Ronaldo in 1996 and 1997, and again in 2002. Rivaldo was chosen in 1999, Ronaldinho in 2004 and 2005, and Kaka in 2007.

In a 13-year spell, five Brazilians won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award on eight separate occasions, which set the bar for subsequent generations of their compatriots.

The career of Neymar will be seen – by himself and other Brazilians – as falling short of potential if he does not get his hands on the award.

And so if you want to know why the 25-year-old forward might consider leaving Barcelona for Paris St-Germain then it is crucial to understand that how he will be remembered back home in Brazil is paramount.

But beyond that, there is also the issue of why PSG might be the next logical step for Neymar to take if he is to finally win an award that has so far eluded him.

How failures have shaped Neymar’s career

Like all success stories, failure plays a part in what has happened to Neymar.

There was his astonishing flop at the 2009 Under-17 Championship in Nigeria, when Brazil were one of eight teams to fail to make it out of the group stage.

A frontline of Neymar and Philippe Coutinho could not come up with goals when it mattered. Making little impression, Neymar was hauled off when Brazil were losing 1-0 to both Mexico and Switzerland.

He was already a budding star at senior level for Santos in the Brazilian first division.

The lesson was clear: global football was hard, and he needed to be ready before making the move across the Atlantic.

Chelsea thought they had secured him at one stage, but he stayed put at Santos until 2013, avoiding the pitfalls of the premature move.

The other relative failure was that of the man Neymar grew up idolising – Robinho, a former Santos star. When Robinho moved to Real Madrid in 2005 it was automatically assumed in Brazil that the forward would cruise to the World Player award.

One media pundit, former Brazil striker Casagrande, felt Robinho would be better than anyone who had ever played the game, with the exception of Pele.

History tells us otherwise, and Robinho’s career has never completely recovered from the discovery that Real were prepared to use him as a makeweight to get their hands on Cristiano Ronaldo – a decision which in hindsight looks like a masterstroke.

Neymar, then, was well aware that his bid for world domination would have to be made step by step, which made Barcelona such an enticing prospect.

Stepping out of Messi’s shadow

The Barcelona Neymar joined in 2013 was Lionel Messi’s team.

The pressure would be off.

Former Brazil winger Denilson, for example, became the world’s record signing two decades ago and was immediately supposed to carry a mediocre Real Betis side. Neymar would not have this problem. He could ease his way into European club football in the shadow of Messi.

But, in this step-by-step strategy, he would not want to be in the shadow of Messi forever. How could he win the World Player award if he was not even the most outstanding member of his own team?

So either Messi would move on, Neymar would replace him as the focal point of the attack, or Neymar would move on. Messi has just signed a new contract. He looks set to remain the lead violinist for the foreseeable future – leaving option three.

While Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said Neymar will not be leaving the club, reports have continued to say Paris St-Germain have offered Neymar the opportunity to lead the pack. And there would be an added bonus.

This season ends with the World Cup, when Neymar should be in peak condition – he will be 26 next June.

In the French league he will be able to coast a little, pacing himself to ensure there is enough gas in the tank for a top campaign in Russia.

A move to Paris, then, makes plenty of cold, hard sense. Its attractions are clear in the eyes of some of those around Neymar – and it is wise to remember that the structure around him means clubs are dealing with a limited company as much as a man.

His father, agents and advisers all have a strategy and an opinion, but none has the joy that he experiences lining up alongside Messi and Luis Suarez in the Barcelona forward line. What is best for the brand may not necessarily be what is best for the player.

It is an assumption, but probably a fair one, that Neymar is going through something of an internal conflict at the moment, pulled in different directions by contrasting urges of logic and emotion.

“I would not be surprised if Neymar stays at Barcelona or if he goes to PSG,” wrote 1970 World Cup winner Tostao, always the wisest voice in Brazilian football.

“Neymar has learnt a lot playing at Barcelona with Messi. There is no contradiction between, on one hand, the happiness that he has playing for one of the world’s great teams and the admiration and friendship he feels for Messi, and on the other his desire to be even more famous and become a bigger star than he already is.

“It is impossible to predict which choice would be better or worse for Neymar. The bad thing would be he dreams about one option and takes the other.”

IT’S the month of August and African football has every reason to celebrate as the continent looks back at what was indeed an august achievement by a Zimbabwean.

On Wednesday 19 August 1992 at 9:10pm, Zimbabwe’s celebrated former Warriors captain Peter “Nsukuzonke” Ndlovu, made history by being the first African footballer to play in the English Premier League (EPL) while turning out for Coventry City.

His touchdown on the English Premier League (EPL) arena that August is what Africa would call a grand entry to stardom. It was the beginning of a new era, not only for Zimbabwe.

Ndlovu’s club debut came against Tottenham Hotspurs in a match that he featured for only 20 minutes in the process kicking the ball for the first time on English soil.

A seemingly shy yet talented teenager, Nsukuzonke brought the stadium into a halt. Here was a lad from Zimbabwe in the heart of England, ready to show the owners of the game his ball wizardry.

As Ndlovu recounted in a recent interview, the month of August remains dear to him.

“I treasure that and I respect that. It’s just a big thing for me,” Ndlovu recently told BBC.

He said nothing humbles him more than the memory of making history in the EPL.

“This is where the big time started. At that time there were so many black players but if you stand out to be the first African player to play in the EPL it really means a lot,” he said.

His first starting and full-time match came away to Sheffield on Wednesday 2 September 1992 and this also coincided with his first goal for Coventry City.

The Blues fans began to get excited about their new boy. Lest we forget, his blistering pace and darting runs made him a tough customer for most defenders.

In his debut season, Ndlovu made 32 appearances and scored 7 goals, at a rate of a goal every 325 minutes or every four games or so for his whole career average at Coventry.

Ndlovu or “Nuddy”, as he would affectionate become known to the Blues fans, stayed with Coventry for six years.

His greatest moments in that period would come against Liverpool at Anfield where he was the first and only player to score a hat trick away to Liverpool on 4 March 1995. His record would last 14 years, until it was broken by Arsenal’s Andrey Asharvin in April 2009.

OCEAN MUSHURE is currently the best footballer in the domestic Premiership, by a country mile, and in every game for a Dynamos side he is leading with distinction, both as a captain and a goal-scoring hero, he appears to be on a mission to convert those who argue otherwise.

Since being handed the captaincy at DeMbare, Mushure has been a revelation, a tower of strength for the Glamour Boys and a leader who has been leading his men from the front.

When he starred for the Warriors at the 2017 COSAFA Castle Cup finals, there were some people who dismissed him as a fluke taking advantage of lightweight opposition.

But, since his return to the trenches of the domestic Premiership, Mushure’s star has been shining brightly and last night he scored his third goal on the trot as the Glamour Boys won a third straight game after dismissing a 10-man Hwange at the National Sports Stadium.

Mushure, who is enjoying his new role on the left side of the midfield, headed home 10 minutes after the breather to give his side the insurance goal they badly needed.

He was the beneficiary of a perfect cross from midfielder Denver Mukamba, who returned to action after missing the last two matches due to suspension and illness.

DeMbare had found the opener in the first half just after the half hour mark when a Tichaona Chipunza cross was directed into the nets by Hwange defender Gerald Ndlovu, who buckled under pressure as he battled to clear his lines.

The visitors found themselves on the back foot after just three minutes when midfielder Melvin Mekiwa was expelled by referee Norman Matemera for lunging on midfielder Cleopas Kapupurika’s chest.

The tackle was so crude that Kapupurika had to be immediately replaced with Emmanuel Mandiranga, who went on to have a very good outing.

The Glamour Boys created a host of chances but were let down by poor finishing especially by Tawanda Macheke in an attack that missed the leadership of Cameroonian Christian Epoupa Ntouba.

“It was another tough encounter against a stubborn Hwange. They played very well but we managed to score two goals,’’ said Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa.

“It is still a cause of concern, we are creating a number of chances but what is crucial is three points and we are happy that we managed to collect them.’’

Hwange coach Bigboy Mawiwi, who was hailed by Mutasa for transforming Chipangano in the few matches he has been in charge since replacing Nation Dube, vowed his team will not be relegated.

“Coming into this match, we knew we were going to play a difficult game and, unfortunately, just after three minutes Melvin was red-carded,’’ said Mawiwi. ‘’Although the decision was a bit harsh, it was a terrible mistake considering his experience.

“I thought we were playing good football then somehow we went down by also conceding a soft goal. I am glad that we are playing good football, you can see that the players are full of confidence and, hopefully, we will win the next game.

‘’We are fighting for survival and we will survive.’’

Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Teams

Dynamos: A. Reyners, O. Mwerahari (P. Makaha 46th minute), M. Machazane, P. Dube, C. Rusere (T. Sadiki 77th minute), T. Chipunza, G. Saunyama, C. Kapupurika (E. Mandiranga 9th minute), O. Mushure, D. Mukamba, T. Macheke.

Hwange: T. Mvula, C. Dickson, G. Ndlovu, O. Moyo, A. Chuma, C. Muleya (E. Meleka 77th minute), M. Mekiwa, S. Gadzikwa (O. Lungu 78th minute), N. Ziwini, C. Muvuti, J. Kaunda (D. Murimba 63rd minute).

Premier League champions Chelsea suffered an embarrassing home defeat on the first Saturday of the new season, having two men sent off as unfancied Burnley beat them 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Conte’s disjointed side struggled from the early stages when captain Gary Cahill was dismissed for a lunging tackle and they found themselves three-nil down at halftime to a team who gained only seven points away from home all last season.

Wales international Sam Vokes scored two of the goals and Stephen Ward the other.

New signing Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid came on to pull one back midway through the second half and then provided an assist for David Luiz, but in-between midfielder Cesc Fabregas was also sent off for a second yellow card.

It was a dispiriting afternoon for Conte, who won the title in his first season at the club but has complained that Chelsea have not signed enough new players while allowing several to leave.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp protested that Watford’s stoppage-time equaliser by Manuel Britos in an entertaining 3-3 draw should have been disallowed for offside.
Britos was standing almost on the line before nudging in the loose ball after Simon Mignolet pushed it onto the bar.

“We were unlucky in the end,” Klopp said. “The equaliser was offside. It’s obvious because the linesman is on the line. He needs to see it.

“We would have had defensive areas we need to work on if we’d won 3-2. We were the better team, we should have won.”

After the opening game of the season on Friday produced seven goals and a late winner for Arsenal, who beat Leicester City 4-3, the two teams at Vicarage Road served up more of the same entertainment for a worldwide television audience — including some poor defending.

Football Soccer – Premier League – Chelsea vs Burnley – London, Britain – August 12, 2017 Burnley’s Tom Heaton celebrates after the match with Stephen WardDylan Martinez

The home side, under new manager Marco Silva, led twice through Stefano Okaka and Abdoulaye Doucoure but Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, with a penalty, both equalised.

Debutant Mohamed Salah seemed to have won the points for the visitors before Britos’s dramatic late intervention.

Promoted Huddersfield Town, playing in the top flight for the first time since 1972 and widely tipped for relegation, cruised to a 3-0 win away to Crystal Palace.

Record signing Steve Mounie, the Benin striker from Montpellier who cost 13 million euros ($15.36 million), scored once in each half after Palace’s Joel Ward put through his own goal.

Wayne Rooney scored on his return to Everton from Manchester United to give the Merseysiders a 1-0 victory at home to Stoke City. It was his 199th Premier League goal and first for Everton since 2004.

Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi, on loan to West Bromwich Albion from Al Ahly, scored on his debut in the 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth.

There were no goals on the south coast between Southampton and Swansea City. That meant the Saints have not scored at home in their last six games.

Promoted Brighton were playing at home to Manchester City in the late game on Saturday.

Liverpool showed familiar defensive weaknesses after conceding a trio of soft goals including a stoppage-time equaliser in an absorbing 3-3 Premier League draw at Watford on Saturday.

Defender Miguel Britos bundled the ball home at the death after Liverpool had come from 1-0 and 2-1 down to lead 3-2 thanks to a three-minute blitz in the second half, when new signing Mohamed Salah made an impact.

Former Chelsea winger Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma during the close season, won a penalty converted by Roberto Firmino in the 55th minute and then bundled in the Brazilian’s lofted pass from close range.

But the visitors were punished for sloppy defending and missing a string of chances as Britos popped up at the near post to delight the home fans at Vicarage Road, leaving Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp blaming the officials and bad luck.

“The equaliser was offside. It’s obvious because the linesman is on the line. He needs to see it,” said Klopp.

“The first half I wasn’t too happy with. We passed but we couldn’t see what we actually wanted. The second half was a lot better but we forgot to close the game.”

Having declared that the club’s want-away Brazil forward Philippe Coutinho is not for sale, Klopp may need to strengthen his back four who looked completely at sea almost every time the home side came forward
Football Soccer – Premier League – Watford vs Liverpool – Watford, Britain – August 12, 2017 Watford’s Miguel Britos celebrates scoring their third goal with Tom CleverleyDarren Staples

Liverpool fell behind in the eighth minute after striker Stefano Okaka was left completely unmarked at the near post to head in a Jose Holebas corner.

Sadio Mane drew the visitors level with a classy equaliser, having started and finished a slick move which involved a double exchange of passes with Alberto Moreno and a deft touch by Emre Can.

Yet Liverpool were hit by another sucker punch just three minutes later, as they failed to clear a low cross by Tom Cleverley which left midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure with a simple tap-in.

Liverpool appeared to be heading for victory after Firmino sent Watford keeper Heurelho Gomez the wrong way with his spot-kick and then chipped the ball into Salah’s stride to put the visitors 3-2 ahead.

Yet they missed several good chances to put the game beyond Watford’s reach and paid the price when a poorly delivered corner from the right caught them napping and Britos poked in the equaliser after a goal-mouth melee.

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher criticised the club’s defensive system and pointed the finger at their German coach.

“It’s the set up from the manager,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“They concede the most goals out of anyone in the top six. Nothing has changed.”

RONALD PFUMBIDZAI says he has a very good relationship with his coach Lloyd Chitembwe and regrets his conduct on Wednesday when he refused to shake the gaffer in a fit of anger after being substituted in the dying moments of their win over FC Platinum at Rufaro.

The roving wing-back, who is joining South African Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic, exploded with anger after Chitembwe cautioned him for not acting to instructions, to pass the ball rather than keep possession, in the twilight of the match.

The no-nonsense gaffer then pulled Pfumbidzai out of the match, with the player storming off the pitch and avoiding Chitembwe as he walked to the bench.

He then refused to be counselled by assistant coach Mark Mathe and, as all the CAPS United players — including substitutes and technical staff — went on to salute their fans after the match, Pfumbidzai walked away to the dressing room after having ripped his jersey to the ground.

However, yesterday, the footballer — who is set to play his last game for Makepekepe on Sunday when they host Ngezi Platinum — said he regrets what happened and, on reflection, he should have done better.

Pfumbidzai said he owed a lot to Chitembwe who has transformed his career and made him one of the best players on the domestic Premiership.

The gaffer also has a soft spot for the player and tried, in vain, to delay his move to South Africa for trials with Celtic arguing that he was a vital member of his squad.

Pfumbidzai, who scored against Tsholotsho, provided the winner for defender Steve Makatuka on Wednesday from his dangerous balls whipped from dead ball situations.

“It is so unfortunate that incident happened, especially at such a time when I am leaving the club, and it will have many connotations but the truth of the matter is I am in good books with my coaches and I have always been,’’ he told The Herald.

‘’We talked about the incident after the game.

“My coach knows that I want to win always and I was saying to my teammates ‘let’s go and press high so that we don’t concede,’ and the coach said you are talking while football is being played and I was substituted.

“Maybe, I am different, but I am a very passionate player with a strong fighting spirit and I don’t like to be substituted. I am one person who can play with an injury.

“Last year I played a number of matches with a shoulder injury because I was itching to play and not miss action.

“You know CAPS United have been down so I badly wanted to finish the game and make sure we collect three points.

“I love my team and I was not angry at the coach, it happened in the heat of the moment but everyone was cool with it after the game and even my teammates understood me.

“But sometimes people sitting on the terraces don’t understand some of these gestures. I think the match against Ngezi on Sunday will be my last match for the club and once again I will give my 100 percent.”

Club president Farai Jere said CAPS United will always be ready to forgive Pfumbidzai.

“He is a fiery character and if he was someone else who didn’t want to help us he would have stopped playing some time ago or not devoting himself fully to our cause once he knew he was going to South Africa,’’ he said.

“But he has been there for us and giving 100 percent effort and I know our coach, he is a professional man who only looks at what is best for the team and doesn’t carry grudges with his players because he is above them and he is their father and they have a good relationship with Ronnie.

“Let’s concentrate on the next assignment.’’

Pfumbidzai becomes the latest CAPS United star to join a foreign club with midfielders Abbas Amidu and Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo sealing their deals.

He had a short stint with Danish club Hobro IK.

Yesterday, he paid tribute to his club, teammates and Chitembwe.

“I am happy with the way things have turned out. I am moving to a bigger platform where I can showcase my talent. I thank my club, my teammates and my coaches for helping me to achieve this and I wish them well,’’ said Pfumbidzai.

“I hope they will continue with the fighting spirit.

“I also hope that as I leave the club, I will continue with the form that I was enjoying at CAPS United, I have hit top form and was really enjoying my football.

“When I went to Denmark I was not yet experienced. I didn’t know what was expected from a player at such a professional stage but this time I now know what is expected and know exactly what to do.’’

CAPS United officials have asked their fans to come in big numbers on Sunday to give Pfumbidzai a befitting farewell after his starring role for the Green Machine in which he helped them win the league championship last year and topped the assists table in the country with 19.

ZIFA Bulawayo provincial chairman Washington Chimanda collapsed and died while waiting to be served at a microfinance lending institution at Parkade Centre building in the city centre. He was 54. According to Zifa Southern Region board member.

Bryton Malandule, who arrived moments after the tragic incident, Chimanda, a senior teacher at Emakhandeni Primary School, initially complained that he was not feeling well while in the queue.

“I’m told seconds after complaining of dizziness, he collapsed and an ambulance was called but the crew certified him dead on the scene. Police were then called and they took the body to Bulawayo Central Police Station before calling his wife Susan,” said Malandule.

The wife, who could not believe her husband was dead, requested for a second opinion.

She was then accompanied to the United Bulawayo Hospitals by Malandule, Zifa administrator Augustine Ndlovu and the Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda. They were later joined by the Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza.

At the hospital, a second doctor further examined Chimanda and confirmed he was dead.

Chimanda came into football administration in the 1990s when he was a provincial treasurer. He became the Zifa Bulawayo province secretary in 2002, a post he held until 2014 when he defeated Horace Ndubiwa to take over the chairmanship.

Mandaza said he was still in a state of shock.

“For now you’ll forgive me really because I’m still trying to grasp what has befallen us, I’m shocked, very shocked indeed,” said Mandaza.

Commenting on behalf of the national association, Sibanda said football has once again lost a dedicated person.

“Its a tragedy, I happen to have been among the first people here and its just unbelievable. My condolences to the family,” said Sibanda.

According to Chimanda’s son Vusa, his father had been battling a heart problem for some time.

Chimanda is survived by wife Susan and two children, Tapiwa, 27 and Vusa, 20.

Chronicle

Manchester United have held talks with representatives of ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the BBC understands.

The 53-year-old Portuguese, who was sacked by the Blues in December, is increasingly hopeful of succeeding Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford.

No agreement has been reached, and the club have made no comment, but negotiations have begun.

Dutchman Van Gaal, 64, is expected to leave United at the end of the season - one year earlier than scheduled.

That would leave the way clear for Mourinho, who is known to be excited by the prospect of taking over at Old Trafford.

The United hierarchy are thought to be keen to respond after Manchester City secured the services of coveted former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola earlier this week.

Mourinho's arrival would mean a resumption of a rivalry that began in Spain when he was coach of Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013.

Twice in recent weeks, Van Gaal's tenure has seemed perilous.

However, defeats by Stoke on Boxing Day and Southampton on 23 January have been followed by an improvement in both form and performance.

United, who are five points adrift of the Champions League places, play Chelsea on Sunday (16:00 GMT).

Who else is in the frame?

It is widely assumed the most obvious alternative to Mourinho is Ryan Giggs, Van Gaal's assistant.

The Welshman, who joined United aged 14, made a record 963 appearances for the club and won 13 Premier League titles.

The 42-year-old took over as manager on an interim basis in April 2014 following the sacking of David Moyes.

Although he has not spoken about the United job since Van Gaal took over, it would be a surprise were he not interested in replacing the Dutchman should the opportunity arise.

However, while Giggs was happy to further his education under Van Gaal, he is unlikely to be as willing to work with Mourinho.

What went wrong for Mourinho at Chelsea?

Mourinho's first spell as Chelsea manager lasted from 2004 to 2007, and included two Premier League titles.

On his return, he again led the London club to the title, but left just seven months later.

He made a disastrous start to this season, losing nine of the first 16 league games, and departed with the team 16th in the league, one point above the relegation zone.

The former Porto boss fell out with the Blues' medical team, in particular club doctor Eva Carneiro, after describing them as "naive" for running on to the pitch to treat midfielder Eden Hazard during a draw against Swansea in August.

Carneiro, who left the club on 22 September, is taking legal action against Mourinho and the Blues.

How is his relationship with Man Utd?

Mourinho has never hidden his admiration for United, and particularly their legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Speaking before taking his Inter Milan side to Old Trafford for a Champions League last-16 tie in 2009, he said: "I want to face the best and United are a team of champions with a super coach in Alex Ferguson."

But after being linked with the manager's job following the departure of Ferguson in 2013, he declared his allegiance to Chelsea.

"I would have turned down every job in the world - the Manchester United job, every one - for Chelsea," he said.

There were reports last month that Mourinho had written a six-page letter outlining his suitability for the United role, but that was dismissed as "absurd" by his agent.

BBC

IT keeps getting better for ZIFA and their president Philip Chiyangwa with the flamboyant Harare businessman yesterday taking his first major stride in international football administration after being appointed to one of the Confederation of African Football’s sub-committees.

Chiyangwa was yesterday appointed to the CAF Under-20 Championships organising committee.

The appointment comes just two months after Chiyangwa swept to the helm of the ZIFA board with a landslide victory over his rivals in that poll — Trevor Carelse-Juul , Leslie Gwindi and James Takavada. Chiyangwa has, however, wasted no time in his first two months in office leading in the search for financial resources for the association with much of the thrust being put on the country’s flagships sides — the national men’s and women’s teams.0

Yesterday Chiyangwa received more football administration responsibilities with CAF appointing him to one of their sub-committees. ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze confirmed the development which he said he had been contained in an e-mail sent to him by CAF secretary-general Hicham El Amrani.

“Zimbabwe Football Association President Dr Phillip Chiyangwa has been appointed to serve as a member of the CAF Under-20 Organising Committee.

“He assumes this important role with immediate effect,’’ Mashingaidze said.

Mashingaidze also quoted the correspondence that he had received from CAF over his boss’ appointment.

“This is to confirm that President Chiyangwa is now within the U20 OC Committee of CAF. An official circular will be sent to all MA’s (Member Associations) to confirm the changes as soon as possible,” El Amrani wrote in his email to Mashingaidze.

Chiyangwa also expressed his gratitude to CAF for the recognition they bestowed on him.

“I am grateful to the Confederation of African Football for believing in me and my abilities, by appointing me to serve as a member in this important committee,” he told the Association’s official website.

“This is a great honour to Zimbabwean football. “I will repay their faith in me with splendid work and will make Zimbabwe proud by executing my duties in an impressive manner,” Chiyangwa said.

The vibrant manner in which Chiyangwa has gone about his business has charmed even some of his biggest critics who cast a shadow of doubt on his election into office on December 5.

Chiyangwa has also not made a secret of his ambitions to climb up the ladder of football administration and secure appointments to the various committees at world soccer governing body FIFA, CAF and the regional body COSAFA.

The appointment should also stand the ZIFA boss in good stead to assess Zimbabwe’s prospects of hosting such competitions like the CAF Under-17 and Under-20 tournaments and ultimately the African Cup of Nations. Zimbabwe’s bids to host the African Cup of Nations over the years have eluded the country since 2000 when CAF controversially and diabolically stripped the nation’s rights to stage the event and hastily took the 16-team competition to Ghana and Nigeria. Just this week, Chiyangwa sealed a $100 million deal that could help Zimbabwe showcase her capacity to hold major competitions with the ZIFA president and Asian firm Total Sports Marketing agreeing to stage the Afro-Asia tournament.

Herald

Good times are set to roll for local football after the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and Bangladesh-based Total Sports Marketing (TSM) signed a dream multi-million dollar media, sponsorship and commercial rights deal on Tuesday last week.

The mega deal brokered by Zifa boss Phillip Chiyangwa and signed by TSM chief executive officer Moinul Haque Chowdury, could see the football association netting around $40 to $100 million for hosting an intercontinental tournament for the next eight years.

The figures will however, depend on the number and class of the teams that will agree to participate in this competition, which will be dubbed the “Robert Mugabe Afro-Asia Intercontinental Football Tournament”.
Former Sport minister David Coltart believes it will be a major breakthrough for Zimbabwean football if the deal comes to fruition.

“Everyone is waiting anxiously to see the first edition of the tournament. It’s good business, only if we start seeing the colour of the money. We all hope for change,” Coltart said.
Former PSL boss Chris Sambo hailed Chiyangwa for securing such a deal, but called on Zifa to tread carefully.

“The figures are extremely big, but Zifa must be careful. If you remember, when we took part in the Medeca Cup, it was a multi-nation tournament, but it was the genesis of Asiagate. We might find ourselves being used by these betting Asian tigers. The figures are scaring me,” Sambo said.

Chiyangwa beat his chest when contacted to confirm the authenticity of the deal.

“What else do people want? This organisation [TSM] is not new to Zimbabwe sport. All we need to do is believe and move forward. Give this deal time and people will start believing,” Chiyangwa said.
According to the contract obtained by Standardsport, Zifa has granted TSM all the commercial rights.

“The two parties herein agree that the licensor (Zifa) grants to the licensee (TSM) all commercial rights including, but not limited to global media broadcast and distribution rights to retain all revenue from ticket sales and gatetakings and all sponsorship rights in respect of President Robert Mugabe Intercontinental Tournament or any other tournament referred to in this document and in return the licensee shall bear all costs of hosting, as well as bear the cost for the live production of the said tournament,” the agreement reads.

“Essentially, the Robert Mugabe tournament or any other tournament that the parties may agree upon shall be hosted at no cost to the licensor with the licensee responsible for all the costs as stated herein as the consideration for the commercial, ticketing, media and sponsorship rights granted to the licensee,” reads part of the contract.

“The licensee (TSM), therefore, has the obligation to fund all the start-up and operating costs associated with the hosting of the tournament.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all the details for hosting costs shall be contained in a separate annexure to the agreement whose contents were mutually agreed by the two parties. TSM will not bear any other cost not mentioned in the agreement.

“TSM shall annually dispatch sponsorship funds in the amount of $500 000 to Zifa for the sole purpose of establishing and operating a youth football academy which will be jointly managed by the two parties through a trust.”

The first year’s contribution will be made available after the completion of the 2016 tournament and the funds will be dispatched in six equal installments to Zifa over a period of 12 months.

The Standard

ZIMBABWEAN champions Chicken Inn were far from being chickens as their debut Caf Champions League campaign ended in a cruel manner here.

The Gamecocks gave their all but goals from centre back Wayne Arendnse and late substitute Katlego Mashego’s last minute penalty knocked the life out of them.

The marauding Khama Billiat won the penalty that decided it after being brought down by Passmore Bernard.

That Billiat was at the centre of everything good for the hosts makes this one the more difficult to swallow.

The boy who grew up in Harare’s Mufakose suburb and was nurtured at the Aces Youth Academy was unplayable especially in the second half.

It was from a Billiat free kick that The Brazilians got their first goal through the head of Arendnse after 34 minutes of play.

He raced through the Chicken Inn defence before being tripped by Bernard in the 91st minute and Malagasy referee Andofetra Avombitana Rakotojaona pointed to the spot.

Mashego kept his calm and slotted the ball under a diving Elvis Chipezeze in the 94th minute.

Joey Antipas was proud of his boys even after the heart breaking defeat but thought the penalty was a bit “dodgy.”

“I will give the boys 100 percent mark for the effort they put in. We had to put in a massive performance to get a result which the boys did.

“But I thought the penalty was a bit dodgy, but that is the nature of the game. I wish Sundowns all the best in their quest for the Champions League glory,” said Antipas.

Mamelodi Sundowns came out guns blazing as Chicken Inn struggled to deal with a pitch that was watered five minutes before kickoff.

As Downs poured forward menacingly, the message from Antipas was for his men to toughen up.

And toughen up they did, contesting well for the second ball.

The 15 minute mark was key, it came along with the scores goal-less and the Gamecocks slowly getting into their groove.

A minute later, Chipezeze did well to parry a Billiat effort for a corner.

The Chicken Inn keeper did well once again to gather a Hlompo Kekana header on 19 minutes.

The Gamecocks’ first corner came after 20 minutes of play as Sundowns dominated the proceedings from the onset.

Mamelodi Sundowns’ persistent pressure finally paid off in the 34th minute when Arendnse headed home.

Coincidentally, it also took Chicken Inn 34 minutes to score through Michelle Katsvairo in the first leg played at Babourfields a fortnight ago.

Three minutes later, Pitso Mosimane was forced to make a substitution, bringing on giant striker Antony Laffour for left back Tebogo Langerman who pulled a hamstring as he sought to unlock the Chicken Inn defence.

The Gamecocks mounted pressure in the last five minutes of the first half and Katsvairo could have found the equalizer on two occasions but the speedy forward fell short.

Edmore Chirambadare displayed some lovely piece of footwork in the 42nd minute, roasting Asavela Mbekile inside the box before squaring the ball to Katsvairo who mistimed the pass.

A minute later, Katsvairo’s stinging shot hit the left upright after he was played on by veteran striker Obadiah Tarumbwa.

Sundowns goalie Dennis Onyango was clearly beaten by Katsvairo’s surprise strike.

It was 1-0 in favour of Sundowns at half time.

Just like they did at the start of the match, Sundowns were quicker off the blocks in the second stanza.

Billiat charged towards goal in Sundowns’ first attack but he was checked by Lawrence Mhlanga before substitute Laffour hit the side net in the 50th minute.

The ever dangerous Billiat hit the upright and Keegan Dolly failed to tap in the rebound after 56 minutes of play as The Brazilians took full control of the proceedings.

Chicken Inn’s Tarumbwa mistimed a lob soon after the hour mark after he had raced onto a through ball from the left by Devine Lunga.

The Gamecocks were always suspect when dealing with set pieces and were nearly punished after 70 minutes of play when Thabo Nthenthe’s header, off a free kick by Dolly, was cleared off the line.

Katsvairo thought he had found the equalizer seven minutes from time but his left foot attempt was punched away by Onyango.

Substitute Moses Demera was a shade slower for the rebound.

Then came the agonizing moment when Bernard upended Billiat right inside injury and Sundowns grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Teams

Mamelodi Sundowns: D. Onyango, T. Nthenthe, T. Langerman (A. Laffour 37), A. Mbekile (K. Mashego 89), W. Arendnse, K. Dolly, H. Kekana, L. Castro, B. Soumahoro (T. Zwane 46), M. Mashaba, K. Billiat

Chicken Inn: E. Chipezeze, P. Bernard, L. Mhlanga, M. Jackson, D. Lunga, D. Phiri, T. Kutinyu (T. Goredema 90), P. Madhazi (C. Matawu 50), E. Chirambadare, O. Tarumbwa (M. Demera 79), M. Katsvairo

The 2016 Castle Lager Premier League season kicks off with a blockbuster clash between champions Chicken Inn and Harare giants Dynamos.

The season kicks off on April 2.

DeMbare have roped in a Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva who faces one of the most difficult fixtures in his first week in the topflight league.

aps United kick off with a home tie against Chapungu before their away tie to Ngezi Platinum, while Highlanders will be away to Hwange in week one.

The first big Harare derby featuring Dynamos and Caps United is scheduled for week four with the former hosting their biggest rivals.

Before that Caps United would have hosted Harare City in what could be tough two week period for the Lloyd Chitembwe coached side.

Dynamos host Highlanders in match day eight while Bosso will take on Caps in back to back clashes in week 15 and 16.

Norman Mapeza’s FC Platinum starts off with a home tie against Tsholotsho before travelling to Bulawayo to face Highlanders, who also have a new coach Elroy Akbay.

Fixtures

New boys Mutare City Rovers and Ngezi Platinum clash on match day one, while fellow new comers Border Strikers have to make the long trip to face ZPC Kariba.

The first Bulawayo derby for the season is in match day one featuring How Mine, now coached by Kelvin Kaindu, and Bulawayo City in their debut season in the topflight league.

Bulawayo City have another Bulawayo derby to contend with in week two facing Tsholotsho, Joey Antipas’ Chicken Inn will be the first team to be hosted by Border Strikers, who are currently refurbishing Dulibadzimu to try and meet the elite league standards.

The first battle of the platinum miners featuring Ngezi Platinum, who have declared that they will spice up the league, and FC Platinum is set to take place in week four with the new comers hosting one of the pre-season title favourites from Zvishavane.

Newsday

The Zifa executive committee has suspended Edzai Kasinauyo over allegations of planning to fix the outcome of the 2017 Afcon qualifier between Swaziland and Zimbabwe at the end of the month.

Zifa announced suspension of Kasinauyo, who is an executive committee member responsible for technical affairs, in a statement released after their meeting in Harare on Tuesday.

Details of the reasons for the suspension are still sketchy with Zifa only pointing out that there were moves to fix the Swaziland, Zimbabwe tie and Kasinauyo was at the centre of it.

The statement reads; “ The Zimbabwe Football Association Executive committee would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation at large that following its meeting held in Harare today (Tuesday, March 08 2016), it has provisionally suspended Executive Committee member Edzai Kasinauyo,” it reads. “The suspension has been occasioned by allegations of match fixing ahead of the 2017 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match between Zimbabwe and Swaziland.Mr Kasinauyo has been fingered in the match fixing scam and investigations are going on. The ZIFA president Dr Phillip Chiyangwa will issue a statement after consultations with COSAFA, CAF , FIFA and the Government of Zimbabwe.”

Newsday

History will record that one of Zifa's last acts was to slap life bans, from all football activities, on the pair of former association chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya and controversial football administrator Jonathan Musavengana.

The pair were handed life bans for their alleged involvement in the Limpopogate match fixing scandal at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened at the Zifa Village yesterday.

Former Zifa board member Edzai Kasinauyo and former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa were handed 10 year bans each while former Warriors assistant coach Nation Dube was been banned for five years.

Association president Philip Chiyangwa and Acting General secretary Joseph Mamutse signed the notice that sealed the quintet's fate and also exonerated football agent Kudzi Shabba.
 
"The statement is clear. There is no explanation to make here, we have banned those individuals for their role in Limpopogate," said Chiyangwa.

"We are moving forward, we don't want these things of match fixing to continue recurring in our football," he said.

Zifa contends that Rushwaya, former programmes officer Musavengana, Gorowa and Dube worked with an Asian match fixing syndicate as they tried to fix the 2017 Afcon qualifier match between the Warriors and Swaziland.

The same cartel, according to Zifa, was also involved in fixing matches in the South African Premiership.

For Rushwaya and Musavengana it is the second time that they have been slapped with bans from football.

They were banned for the roles in the Asiagate match fixing scandal but were pardoned soon after Chiyangwa won last December's Zifa elections.

- Sunday Mail

Zifa benefactor, Wicknell Chivayo’s decision to pay only some foreign-based Warriors their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification bonuses has left locally-based troops a disgruntled lot.

Chivayo promised the senior men’s football team $250 000 to be shared among players and officials as an incentive for qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals to be hosted by Gabon, but to date he has only paid some of the foreign-based players and no locally-based player has received anything.

Chivayo promised to give the players the money in June after they defeated the Flames of Malawi at home to secure qualification for the first time since 2006.

It is understood that Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat, and Costa Nhamoinesu are among those that have been paid.

Locally-based players that were involved in the qualification campaign include Hardlife Zvirekwi, goalkeepers, Tatenda Mukuruva, Donovan Bernard, defender Elisha Muroiwa, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Teenage Hadebe.

During the campaign, Bruce Kangwa, now in Tanzania, and Danny Phiri, who is plying his trade at Golden Arrows in South Africa, formed part of the locally- based contingent.

Some players, who spoke to NewsDay Sport said that they felt their efforts were not being appreciated since they were not benefitting from Chivayo’s handouts.

The controversial businessman had also promised to give the Warriors Samsung Galaxy S7 mobile phone handsets valued at around $1 000 each, but again only the foreign-based players benefitted.

The players said they were not happy with Chivayo’s selective nature of paying bonuses.

“We were just asked to open accounts after our qualification and were promised that the money would be deposited,” one player said. “But we have not received anything. The same players that have been paid bonuses are the ones that were given mobile phone handsets and we did not get anything. It’s a bit frustrating when such promises are made in public, yet the payments are made in secrecy and selectively.”

Contacted for comment in early August Chivayo promised to pay off the players before their Guinea tie. But yesterday Chivayo threatened to pull the plug on the locally-based players’ bonuses.

“I do not owe any newspaper reporter any explanation about how I pay the players,” he said.

“I remain tirelessly committed to support the national team and Zifa during Philip Chiyangwa’s tenure. I will not give in to any pressure tactics, as I have, to date, wholeheartedly outlaid reasonably big amounts towards football.”

Chivayo said he had done a lot for the team including paying the players after their 1-0 defeat to Guinea in the final match of their Group L qualifier.

“Recently, I was in Guinea with the players. I gave them money after their defeat to Guinea. Ask them. Why would I give them money for a defeat? You and your editor don’t appreciate the role I am playing. But now, tell those players they will not get any cent from me again,” he fumed.

The 25 players and officials who travelled to Guinea were reportedly given $5 000 to share by Chivayo, translating to about $200 per individual if shared equally.

Source-Newsday

ZIFA finally ended the uncertainty that had seemed to cloud Callisto Pasuwa’s tenure as Warriors coach when the soccer mother body revealed they would be officially terminating the gaffer’s contract at the end of this month. A lot of drama had characterised Pasuwa’s last days as Warriors coach, with his manager Gibson Mahachi demanding that ZIFA must write to his client stating their position.

ZIFA, through acting chief executive Joseph Mamutse, yesterday wrote to Pasuwa advising him that his contract was being terminated with effect from February 28.

Mamutse also indicated in his letter that the coach’s contract was being terminated based on the recommendations of the ZIFA High Performance Committee which met with the former Dynamos mentor last Friday to review the Warriors 2017 African Cup of Nations and the senior team’s showing in the first of his two-year contract.

The Herald exclusively revealed last week that the High Performance Committee had recommended that the coach’s contract should be terminated. It also emerged that effectively Pasuwa’s one-year deal was subject to renewal for another year, depending on how ZIFA viewed his performance and subject to negotiations between the two parties.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association would like to advise that after examining the High Performance Committee review report, we hereby advise that ZIFA will terminate the contract with effect from the 28th of February, 2017 when the contract expires and would expect you to comply with necessary requirements as well as Section 5.2 of the contract.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the services you rendered during the period as national team coach,” reads a copy of the letter from Mamutse.

Although Pasuwa had met the initial target that had been spelt out in his contract after leading the Warriors to the Nations Cup in Gabon, ZIFA had also reviewed the team’s performance at the tournament and held the coach accountable for their poor results in which they managed just one point after finishing bottom of Group B that also included heavyweights Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia.

The HPC felt the coach came short on his team selection and reckoned that the Nations Cup had exposed his tactical shortcomings. ZIFA vice president and HPC chairman Omega Sibanda maintained that his committee was not targeting individuals adding that Pasuwa had naturally come under the spotlight as he was in charge of the country’s flagship football team.

“People are making a mistake that we were looking at Pasuwa and the Warriors, but that is not the case. We looked at football in general. “We reviewed all competitions from the Under-17s to the senior teams for both the men and women teams at the end of the 2016 cycle which coincidentally finished with the AFCON tournament.

“Pasuwa was just part of the bigger element that was being reviewed. It is the duty of the HPC to review the performance of all our national teams and also to look at why some of our junior teams did not participate in the competitions they were supposed to take part and then make recommendations on how we should move forward to improve our game.

“It is also important to note that the HPC will never fire nor hire a coach. We just make recommendations and the executive and the president chooses what they want to do with the findings.

“So we did what we have been mandated to do and again we will have another review in 2019 because we have another cycle of competitions coming up this year for both the men’s and women’s teams,” said Sibanda.

A closer look at the contract which Pasuwa entered into with ZIFA shows that the only recourse which the coach now has is outstanding salaries and perks up to February 28 and this includes $20 000 qualification bonus for guiding the Warriors to the Nations Cup and the $15 000 contract fees he ought to have been paid when he put pen to paper last year.

The contract, which Pasuwa signed with ZIFA on February 1, 2016 states that although the agreement was for a two-year period, the initial one year would be terminated on February 28 with the remaining year being re-negotiated by the parties after a performance review.

This was captured in Article 2:1 of the contract which states that:
“This contract shall be for a duration of up to two years, but shall have an initial period of one year and shall be subject to renewal for an equivalent period in writing upon review of performance under this contract and subject to further negotiations by the parties.

“The effective date of commencement of this contract is 1 February, 2016 and the date of termination shall be February 28, 2017.’’ ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has repeatedly said Chivayo is his sponsor and not a sponsor for the Association.

In his termination letter, Mamutse also cited Clause 5 of the contract which deals with Pasuwa’s remuneration and the conditions attached to it.

Article 5.1 of the agreement reads: “The employee shall be paid a signing on fee of $15 000 to be paid within three months of the signing of the contract. Further the employee should be paid a gross salary of seven thousand ($7 000) subject to the statutory deductions of PAYE, NSSA and AIDS levy. This excludes winning bonuses and camping allowances.

“The salary shall be reviewed at the end of the first year of the contract in terms Clause 2:1 above’’.

ZIFA, making reference to Article 5:2 of the contract, also insisted yesterday that Pasuwa would need to surrender the vehicle that he was using as national coach despite Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo having argued that he had bought the car for the coach in his personal capacity.

Chivayo told The Herald on Tuesday that he had purchased the vehicle as a gesture for the commitment and patriotism to national duty, which Pasuwa had shown.

Article 5:2 of the contract states that: “The employer shall avail a motor vehicle for use by the employee for the duration of this contract. The employee shall be responsible for keeping the motor vehicle in a good condition and the employer shall be responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle.

“The employer shall not be liable to damages on the motor vehicle arising out of the employee’s negligent, reckless and or driving without due care or attention. “The employee shall not give the motor vehicle to a third party or drive the motor vehicle outside Zimbabwe without the written permission of the employer.

“The motor vehicle shall be returned to the employer if the contract is not renewed,’’ reads the contract.

ZIFA also agreed to pay Pasuwa $10 000 each for qualification to the CHAN and COSAFA tournaments while the coach is entitled to $20 000 for having guided the Warriors to the Nations Cup.

“The employee shall be entitled to the following bonuses; In the amount of $10 000 for qualifying to participate in the COSAFA Senior men challenge and the CHAN tournament. In the amount of $20 000 for qualifying for the 2017 African Cup of Nations’’.

SOURCE: The Herald

”I was in Zimbabwe discussing with the government over a football development, creating 8,000 football clubs across the country and this will boost football development in Zimbabwe.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has dispelled suggestions that his recent trip to Zimbabwe was to aid Issa Hayatou’s overthrow as CAF president.

The Swiss lawyer attended a glitzy bash hosted by ZIFA boss Philip Chiyangwa who is un unrepentant enemy of Hayatou.

But Infantino told the media in Accra on Monday why he visited the Southern African country.

”I was in Zimbabwe discussing with the government over a football development, creating 8,000 football clubs across the country and this will boost football development in Zimbabwe.”

Last week, the Fifa boss met with President Robert Mugabe and pledged his support for the development of football in the country.

SOURCE: New Zimbabwe

Mamelodi Sundowns star Khama Billiat reportedly escaped an armed robbery at an Engen in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Billiat was at an Engen garage in Kyalami, north of Johannesburg when six gunmen entered armed with AK-47 rifles, reported the Sunday World.

The Zimbabwean was said to be buying prepaid electricity at the time and had his watch and wallet taken during the incident. He escaped unharmed after the gunmen forcibly extracted money from the convenience store ATM.

“It’s very unfortunate and sad that such crimes occur in our country. We are very happy though that Khama is not injured or harmed in anyway,” Sundowns spokesperson Thulani Thuswa is quoted as saying.

“I spoke to him [Billiat] not so long ago and is he also happy to have escaped with his life. I asked him and he said he was going to put in petrol and buy some minor stuff, including prepaid electricity.”

The Zimbabwean is currently injured nursing a dead leg and will miss the next few games, according to coach Pitso Mosimane.

Source – KickOff.com

 Police have named three of the 5 people who died on their way from the Highlanders vs Caps United match on Saturday night.

National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident.

“I can confirm the death of five people who were involved in a car accident at the 20km peg along Bulawayo-Gwanda Road near the danger point. The driver lost control of the car and it veered off the road before it hit a tree. Two people died on the spot while two others died upon admission to hospital. The other one who
was in the intensive care unit died today (yesterday),” said Nyathi.

He said they were travelling in a black Toyota Gaia and there were 10 people on board.

Chief Supt Nyathi appealed to motorists to be cautious.

A source said the crew was coming from a soccer match at Barbourfields Stadium.

“They were travelling in a black Toyota Gaia driven by Constable Nation Mpofu (33), who sustained bruises all over the body and is said to be in a stable condition,” he said.

He said the vehicle belongs to one Edmore Chinungwa (43) of Spitzkop North in Gwanda.

Two of the deceased persons are yet to be identified.

“Those identified are Const Edmore Mupinga (27) stationed at ZRP Gwanda camps, Sgt Carl Mhaka (33) stationed at Gwanda Rural and Kholwani Ncube (27), a civilian.

In September last year, six Bosso supporters died while two others were seriously injured when a pick-up truck they were travelling in veered off the road and hit a tree along Falcon Road in Esigodini.

Chronicle

Yadah FC owner Walter Magaya's decision to reportedly suspend his team's coaching department in the wake of last week's first defeat of the season against giants Dynamos FC backfired miserably after they were handed a humiliating 7-2 defeat by Castle Lager Premier Soccer League returnees Bantu Rovers at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

The premiership newboys went into yesterday's encounter without their coach Jairos Tapera and his assistant Elliot Matsika, with the club's team manager Munyaradzi Sinani, team medic Victor Katsande and physiotherapist Mike Mavhura the only technical officials in the visitors' dugout.

The move, however, failed to pay dividends as Yadah FC, who had surprisingly made a bright start to the season, went on to concede seven goals.

The club's chairman Everson Chatambudza however, tried to be diplomatic when asked about Tapera and Matsika's no-show, saying the heavy defeat was as a result of the players failing to grasp the new formations introduced by the club's owner Magaya, who doubles as technical director.

"There is an internal problem, that is why they are not there. You will see them in the next game. There were quite a number of changes which were made tactically for this game and that affected the boys. They only trained for about two days. Our technical director (Magaya) was not available, he was in Cape Town for some other business. So the boys trained basically for two days and they were trying a new formation, which unfortunately they did not master. They trained under Prophet Magaya," Chatambudza said.

He dismissed reports circulating in the grapevine that Tapera and Matsika have been suspended following the defeat by Dynamos.
 
"There is a small problem but it's not correct that the coaches have been suspended. Those are just rumours. It's not something particularly to do with Dynamos. It's something that we will disclose at a later stage. They [Tapera and Matsika] are still there. We still have Jairos Tapera as our coach and his assistants. It's just a small internal problem that is being resolved. They are not on suspension. They simply did not come for this game," Chatambudza said.

Chatambudza was surrounded by overzealous security personnel; some of who did not want him to address journalists after the match.

Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda, who watched the match yesterday, said the scenario where Yadah had no coach at Luveve was not acceptable and the football mother body would issue a statement.

Away from the Yadah FC theatrics, Bantu Rovers' skipper Bukhosi Sibanda notched a hat trick to take his tally to seven goals in seven matches as Tshintsha Guluva got their second win of the season.

Sibanda scored the opener as early as the fifth minute, the second three minutes before the end of the first half and the third, a beauty from a free-kick, in the 59th minute beating goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube all systems out.

The other Bantu Rovers goals came from Gladman Bharibhari (eighth minute), enterprising Obriel Chirinda in the 27th, Newman Sianchali in the 31st and substitute Mbonisi Ncube in the 76th minute.

Coach Joseph Sibindi said it's still work in progress for Bantu Rovers.

Yadah Stars who succumbed to their second defeat scored a brace through Morris Musiyakuvi in the 20th minute and three minutes into optional time.