PSL mired in match-fixing suspicions

With Motor Action and Dynamos level on 63 points and seperated only by a goal difference, the remaining matches pitting the log leaders against Lengthens and Dynamos away to Black Mambas will be a subject of discussion. Lengthens beat Eagles 1-0 on Sunday and have a tough match against Motor Action on December 19.

The last Premier Soccer League results which saw Motor Action’ beating CAPS United 4-2 and Dynamos’ thumping Douglas Warriors 4-0 the subject of debate has been that the match was fixed. Rumours of match fixing even started way back when relegated FC Victoria were massacred 8-0 by Black Mambas who on their part were humiliated 5-0 by Kiglon in a match many feel was a true reflection of Black Mambas way of play.

When Motor Action scored four first half goals without replay against CAPS United, a number of soccer fans trickled out of the National Sports Stadium claiming the game had been fixed. There is no game here. This game was played in the offices. It was sold, said a said Tawanda Mahachi, a CAPS United fan.

Another Green Machine supporter Peter Mukwehwa said it was unfair that fans had been made to pay to watch a game that had already been decided. That was not the CAPS I know. There was something in the players that showed there was something wrong, he said. Ironically, Motor Action last season had to beat CAPS United by a massive 4-0 scoreline to survive relegation.

Last year, Simba Stars who had been promoted into the Premier Soccer League were denied that opportunity after they were found guilty of paying Kadoma United players to throw a match in their favour. Instead Douglas Warriors who finished second were promoted. Coincidentally the same Douglas Warriors are the subject of match fixing debate this year. The Zimbabwe Football Association spent the whole of this year, investigating allegations that members of the national team were paid in Asia to throw away matches in favour of a betting syndicate. The players were allegedly paid sums ranging from $1000 to $3000 to lose by high margins. Some of the players confessed they received the amounts.