The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) slapped life bans on former national coach Sunday Chidzambwa and its ex-chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya Friday after a 2009 match-fixing scam in Asia.
"We say zero tolerance to match-fixing and illegal betting," ZIFA chief executive Cuthbert Dube said in a statement.
"The dark episode should now be consigned to history's dump site and it is incumbent upon the entire family of football to jealously safeguard the beautiful game from its enemies."
Others hit with life bans include players Method Mwanjali, Thomas Sweswe, Edmore Sibanda, Danisa Phiri and Guthrie Zhokinyu, ex-ZIFA official Jonathan Musavengana, player agent Kudzai Shaba and former national team fitness trainer Thompson Matenda.
A former coach of top-flight club Monomotapa, Rodwell Dhlakama, an official at the same club, Hope Chizuzu, and Robson Sharuko, the sports editor of Harare newspaper The Herald, were also barred for life.
The bans follow an independent investigation headed by retired high court judge Ahmed Ebrahim.
Rushwaya, who sent the national team to play unsanctioned friendlies in Thailand and Malaysia, and a Singapore-based betting syndicate allegedly fixed the results.
Ebrahim said exact details of how the Zimbabwe teams were involved in the match-fixing may never be known, but claimed those behind the scam were driven by greed.
"I don't subscribe to the view that the root cause of it (match-fixing) is economic hardship," the former judge stressed.
"I believe the motivating factor is greed and making a quick buck."
ZIFA suspended three board members two years ago, including a former national team player and a former referee, over the scandal.
Source: AFP
