Philani Ncube
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO City FC have suspended four members of their technical team, including head coach Philani Ncube over match-fixing allegations.
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 has been appointed in their place.
Acting City chief executive officer MacKenzie Moyo said the municipal side resolved to suspend the quartet following allegations that they sought to fix the outcome of their league match against debutants Border Strikers.
City beat Strikers 1-0 at Dulivhadzimu in Beitbridge on Wednesday courtesy of a sixth minute Manuel Mandiranga goal.
Distancing City from match-fixing allegations, Moyo said: “The club strongly and unreservedly condemns such action by the perpetrator and those linked to him. The club will allow due process to take place and will assist investigations to be conducted to finality. The club will carry its own investigations to determine these allegations and take the necessary steps. The club has with immediate effect suspended the technical team for the duration of the investigations and resolution of the matter.”
Although official confirmation could not be obtained from City, sources said veteran gaffer Barry Daka and Try Ncube, who was the second assistant coach, have been assigned to take charge of the team in the interim.
The sources also revealed that Mvala and Mujokoro were in Beitbridge yesterday assisting police with investigations.
“Mvala remained in police custody after the game, while Mujokoro was called yesterday morning to assist police. He left Bulawayo for Beitbridge around mid- morning,” said a source.
Mujokoro is being accused of bribing 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, forcing Mujokoro to disappear from the stadium at halftime. — @ZililoR