The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), has dismissed as fake as a WhatsApp screenshot circulating on social media alleging that Technical Director Wilson Mutekede accepted a bribe from a player who wants to play for the Warriors.
In the conversation in question, Mutekede is alleged to be speaking to a player giving him assurance that he has a place in the Warriors squad to face Algeria, with the player promising money in exchange.
ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said the chat was created by people who want to soil Mutekede’ reputation, saying this is not the first time ZIFA officials have been targeted. Said Gwesela:
As ZIFA we can confirm that we have seen the purported chat and we have spoken to Mtekede and we have also checked his text messages and, it appears, this is just another plot to try and smear his name.
As you are aware, a number of ZIFA officials have been targeted, in recent months, in such smear campaigns and there are some people out there whose mission is just to ensure that they denigrate the characters of the ZIFA officials.
It is possible to create a false chat, in this digital age, and this appears to be one of them because it’s not the first time we have seen Mtekede, and other ZIFA officials, being targeted.
Below is a screenshot of the chat in question:
