The ZIFA Congress members, who are pushing for an emergency general meeting (EGM) which could culminate in the dismissal of some board members yesterday said they were unfazed by the suspension of their colleagues by the suspended Felton Kamambo-led executive.
Nine of the 27 members who signed a petition calling for an EGM that had been set for Saturday, but had to be shelved after FIFA intervened, were served with suspension letters at the weekend over varying charges.
These include Caps United director Nhamo Tutisani, Dynamos chairperson Isaiah Mupfurutsa, Highlanders boss Johnfat Sibanda, Martin Kweza and Sweeny Mushonga, both from the Northern Region, Derrick Matapure, Mashonaland West and David Muchena from the Eastern Region.
Nobioth Magwizi (Masvingo) and Moses Chikoti (Northern Region) were also served with suspension letters.
ZIFA staff members, Xolisani Gwesela and national teams manager Wellington Mupandare were suspended for among other things appointing a national team coach ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon while Premier Soccer League boss Kenny Ndebele was suspended for his role in setting up meetings.
The councillors Monday scoffed at the suspensions, arguing that the ZIFA board was suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and, therefore, could not act on behalf of the association.
They said they would wait for the prescribed dates for them to have the EGM. The ZIFA board is expected to explain how it used COVID-19 relief funds from FIFA and CAF and why they concealed match-fixing and sexual abuse allegations.
The suspended board members, who also include Philemon Machana and Bryton Malandule, are likely to lose their posts.
The councillors, however, accuse the ZIFA board of pushing FIFA to ban Zimbabwe and causing chaos. Added the councillors:
The assembly members now find themselves suspended by the suspended executive committee. We collectively believe that football cannot be hold at ransom by a few individuals who are scared of facing the assembly and answer to charges raised against them. The suspended executive committee is abusing the FIFA directive for the EGM to be convened after April 3 2022.
They also argue that the suspended ZIFA board members were trying to decimate the councillors’ grouping so that they would not be able to form a quorum for the meeting.
More: NewsDay