The head coach of Black Leopards, Mr Sunday Chidzambwa, has been banned from football for the rest of his life. This shocking announcement was made by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) last Friday.

Chidzambwa’s name is among the officials and players who were found to be part of the match-fixing scandal investigated by the independent commission of enquiry that was appointed by that country’s football federation. According to the vice-president of ZIFA, Mr Ndumiso Gumede, Chidzambwa, together with two players who are currently playing for South African teams, Method Mwanjali and Thomas Sweswe, were leading figures in colluding with an Asian betting syndicate when Zimbabwe’s national team undertook trips to the Far East for friendly internationals between 2007 and 2009.

Mwanjali and Sweswe are playing for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits respectively.

When asked what the banishment meant to the players and officials currently working outside the borders of Zimbabwe, Gumede said that ZIFA did not have jurisdiction over them. He indicated that they would only wait for the world’s football controlling body, FIFA, to endorse the decision. “Once FIFA endorses our decision, it will effectively bring to an end the football careers of all the culprits, whether they are working in Europe or in South Africa," said Gumede.

Another Mamelodi Sundowns player, Nyasha Mushekwi, is also implicated in the scandal. Mushekwi’s sanction is a suspension from football for eight years, which will also take effect once FIFA ratifies the decision taken by ZIFA.

The other officials who are banned for life include the former ZIFA general secretary Mr Henrietta Rushwaya, who is portrayed as the mastermind behind the affair, and former coach Mr Rodwell Dhlakama.

When approached for comment, the soft-spoken Mr Chidzambwa said that he would only comment after his meeting with ZIFA. He further revealed in a telephonic interview with Limpopo Mirror that he was on his way to Harare.

Chidzambwa was on the team’s technical bench when his team lost 0-2 to Orlando Pirates in their Telkom KO match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium last Saturday evening.

Both the chairman of Black Leopards, Mr David Thidiela, and the president of the South African Football Association, Mr Kirsten Nematandani, said that they would comment on the matter upon receipt of an official communication from FIFA.