Ashford Mamelodi
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
WORLD football governing body Fifa have expressed concerns about recent developments that rocked Zimbabwean football that has seen the sacking and re-engagement of national team coach Callisto Pasuwa following government’s intervention. Zifa announced the sacking of Pasuwa and his entire technical team last Thursday after the association’s board meeting in Harare, but on the following day Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane told Zifa to reverse their decision and reinstate Pasuwa.
Hlongwane asked Chiyangwa to suspend his leave to deal with the unfolding crisis, saying it came as a shock to him that one of Zimbabwe’s most successful and illustrious technical team headed by Pasuwa had been fired over a labour dispute. The Minister called on Zifa and the coach to resolve their differences amicably.
He pointed out that appointing a new technical team with only a few days to go before the Warriors’ participation in the 2016 Chan finals in Rwanda may derail the country’s preparations since a new technical team would need more time to acquaint itself with the task at hand.
Although Pasuwa has since been reinstated, his camp is now demanding an unconditional apology from Zifa before he resumes work as they feel his reputation has been tarnished. Fifa development officer for Central and Southern Africa, Ashford Mamelodi said these events were “very worrying”.
“We take exception to that and as we’ve always said, the government is an important partner in this game; they’re allowed to express an opinion but they must never ever give an instruction,” said Mamelodi. He said Fifa has no problem with the government expressing its position and Zifa embracing the recommendations.
“We will, however, have a problem if the government issues an instruction, like what we’re made to believe. “If Zifa defies that order, as Fifa, we will always and naturally support Zifa, no question about that,” said Mamelodi, who is closely following developments at the national association.
Mamelodi said there was no way governments could be left out of the equation in terms of the running of football and it is paramount for associations to be left to make their own individual and independent decisions that are not influenced or coerced by the government.