Zimbabwean footballers still playing in South Africa after "Asiagate"

By Andrew Warshaw

April 2 – Thirteen suspended Zimbabwean footballers based in South Africa are being allowed to continue playing for their clubs until FIFA takes official action against them.

The players are among a group of 82 who have admitted being involved in match fixing in 2008 and 2009 after being persuaded by betting syndicates to throw certain matches in what has been dubbed “Asiagate” in Zimbabwe.

“We are waiting for FIFA,” said South Africa Football Association (SAFA) chief executive Robin Petersen.

“We’re waiting for FIFA to suspend the players.

“Then I can take action.”

The players are the Mamelodi Sundowns trio of Nyasha Mushekwi, Lionel Mtizwa and Method Mwanjali; Thomas Sweswe (pictured left), Willard Katsande and Zhaimu Jambo from Kaizer Chiefs; Oscar Machapa and Gilbert Mapemba from Moroka Swallows; Khama Billiat and Paul Rusike from Ajax Cape Town; Energy Murambadoro from Wits; Ramson Zhuwawo from AmaZulu; and Kingston Nkatha from Black Leopards.

Sundowns billionaire owner Patrice Motsepe has already spoken out about match fixing, just stopping short of saying the players implicated would leave his club.

“We are a high-profile team and a big brand,” he said.

“We have a legal and moral duty not to condone this type of shenanigans.”

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has stated that if any players are found guilty, they will be banned and FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke (pictured) admitted to being shocked by Petersen’s remarks.

“If they confessed, they should not be allowed to play football anymore,” he told the BBC.

The match fixing allegations have already seen former ZIFA chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya arrested after being accused of collaborating with an Asian betting syndicate to fix a number of games when the Zimbabwe national team toured Asia between 2007 and 2009.

Rushwaya, fired in October 2010 for mismanagement, is alleged to have received “huge payouts” from the syndicate.

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