Sports Briefs

Portsmouth manager, Harry Rednapp was arrested in London last week in connection with corruption charges related to the transfer of player to his team.

The final report released by Lord Stevens, tasked to investigate corruption in English football, has expressed concern about 15 agents and third parties involved in some 17 transfers.  

Benjani is currently the English premier league top goal scorer with Arsenal’s Emanuel Adebayor and Tottenham’s Robbie Keane.

Hid record transfer was this season eclipsed by Ghanaian Sully Muntari who was snapped by Portsmouth for £7.

According to reports from England, the inquiry is not prepared to “sign off” the remaining 17 transfers, among them Warriors captain, Mwaruwari’s transfer from Auxerre to Portsmouth. The report recommends a further probe of the deals by the England Football Association and world soccer body, FIFA.  

With reference to the transfers of Mwaruwari and Aliou Cissé to Portsmouth, the report said: “Agent Willie McKay acted for the selling club, Auxerre, in the transfer of Benjani (Mwaruwari) and for Portsmouth in the transfer of Cissé and, for the same reason as above (still awaiting clarification0, the inquiry is not prepared to clear these transfers at this stage”.  

“In relation to Benjani’s transfer, the inquiry also has identified concerns regarding the role of agent Teni Yerima and third party Ralph Nkomo.

Nkomo is a Zimbabwean businessman based in France who facilitated Mwaruwari’s transfer from the French club to Portsmouth.

Meanwhile, Mwaruwari has spurned Italian Serie A giants Juventus who had tabled a £7 million bid for his signature.  

The 29-year-old striker, who is Portsmouth’s leading goal-scorer in the English Premiership, confirmed yesterday that Juventus had made an offer to sign him during the January transfer window period, but said he would stay put at Fratton Park.  

No Zimbabwean has ever played in the highly regarded Serie A or any Italian league.

“Juventus made an offer and Portsmouth knows about it. But I know the leaders at Portsmouth are about to offer me a much higher contract than what the Italians can give me. I’m happy at Portsmouth and I want to stay there for a long time,” Mwaruwari said.  

Portsmouth coach Harry Redknapp a fortnight ago said the club would offer Mwaruwari an improved contract as reward for his outstanding form since the start of the season.  

Mwaruwari had struggled to impress when he first arrived at Fratton Park in January 2006 from French side AJ Auxerre.

At the start of the season he was linked with a move to French giants Marseille, but Redknapp held on to the striker who has since started paying back for the faith shown in him.  

 

2) ZIMBABWE’S senior national team beat Zambia 3-1 in a the first round of the African Championship soccer qualifier..

If Zimbabwe maintains the lead in the reverse fixture in Zambia in two week the winner will take on South Africa in the next round.

Zimbabwe opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Aldigrade Bhamu flicked a ball flighted from a corner kick which caught the Zambian goalkeeper Mwenzi Lungu unaware.  

But the visitors were level a minute later.

Captain Martha Kapombo fired home from a free-kick to beat Onai Chingawo, who had a subdued game yesterday.

It was a captain’s affair as in the 38th minute as Mighty Warriors skipper Nomsa “Boyz” Moyo latched on to a fine pass from Marilyn Magozore and struck a beauty.

And three minutes later another veteran defender-turned-striker Precious Mpala headed home to extend the Mighty Warriors’ lead.

 

Teams

Zimbabwe: O Chingawo, A Bhamu, R Mutyavaviri, P Phiri, N Bwoni, N Moyo, M Nyaumwe, P Mpala, M. Ndlovu, N Ndlovu, M Magozore (T. Mandaza 62nd min).

Zambia: M Lungu, M Kapombo, F. Sakala (C Mutimbwa, 40min), D. Shamaoma, M. Namafi, F Tembo, M Edwashe, E Banda, J Charota (S Muamba 15min), L. Bown, G Lusaka.

LEAGUE Champions Dynamos dominated the soccer star finalists producing four players this year.

Dynamos provided Murape Murape their captain Justice Majabvi, Willard Manyatera and Edward Sadomba.

Former leaguer champios CAPS United provided skipper Method Mwanjali.

CAPS FC provided striker of the moment Kingston Nkatha, Highlanders provided two finalists Obadiah Tarumbwa and Anzlom Ndlovu.

PSL debutants Lengthens came into the fray with Richard Mteki, who was outstanding the whole season.

Njube Sundowns’s Evans Chikwaikwai was also party of the cream this season. Ovidy Karuru, who was the backborne of Masvingo’s campaign was also selected.

The Soccer-Star-of-the-Year is set to be announced at a banquet on 14 December. The race is tipped to be between Mteki, Murape, Majabvi, and Nkatha.

11 Soccer of the year finalists:

Anzlom Ndlovu and Obadiah Tarumbwa (Highlanders); Richard Mteki (Lengthens); Evans Chikwaikwai (Sundowns); Method Mwanjali (CAPS), Murape Murape, Edward Sadomba, Willard Manyatera and Justice Majabvi (Dynamos), Ovidy Karuru (Masvingo);