Zimbabwe Football Association Suspends Warriors Coach Over Asiagate
Rahman Gumbo has been named interim coach as the national team prepares for a 2013 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifier against Burundi
The Zimbabwe Football Association suspended coaches Norman Mapeza and deputy Joey Antipas who were identified as taking part in the fixing of matches during Asian tours in 2009 in return for cash The Zimbabwe Football Association has suspended Warriors coach Norman Mapeza and his assistant, Joey Antipas. The two were part of the Warriors coaching staff implicated the Asian match-fixing scandal known as Asiagate between 2007 and 2009. Rahman Gumbo has been named interim coach as the national team prepares for its 2013 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifier against Burundi in Bunjumbura on February 29. ZIFA Chief Executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said the move was in line with his board’s decision to suspend all scandal-linked coaching staff, players or staff members. "Our board is implementing recommendations put forward by the Asigate investigation to suspend all those implicated in the scandal despite their affiliation or position," he said. Mashingaize said the suspensions would remain in effect until those implicated were cleared by the ZIFA ethics committee, expected to meet soon. In an unrelated development, former Warriors striker Peter Ndlovu has been named Under 23 national team coach, Mashingaidze said. "Ndlovu now has his coaching certification and he is familiar with grooming junior players whom we urgently need in our future national team," the executive said. Ndlovu, all-time leading scorer for Zimbabwe, also played for Sheffield United from 2001 to 2004 and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns from 2004-2008. As Warriors captain he led the team to qualification for its first African Cup of Nations in 2004 in Tunisia, and its second appearance at the 2006 tournament in Egypt. Mashingaidze told VOA reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye that Ndlovu’s appointment is in keeping with giving younger players the best possible coaching.