Match-fixing costs Warriors

Sources said the Asiagate had put paid to any prospects of Puma becoming the technical supplier of Zimbabwean national teams. The company has not publicly stated its position, but it has been reported that it was not happy to be associated with football associations that have suffered negative publicity in recent months.

Zimbabwe has had a bigger share of controversy following the Asiagate fiasco, a debacle that dates back about five years, when players and officials were said to have conspired with Asian betting syndicates to fix the outcome of matches. ZIFA has punished the culprits, with several players and coaches slapped with life bans, while a commission has been set up in South Africa to probe the issue.

“The match fixing scam involving Bafana Bafana, although the players and coaches have been absolved, has not gone down well Puma and there have been meetings where the company has considered halting the partnership. The same reason cost the deal that could have been signed with Zifa, whose teams have experienced similar problems in the past,” said the company source.

Zimbabwe’s national teams have in recent months been sporting Puma replica attire, leading to suggestions in the media that there was a partnership. It emerged however, that the teams were only wearing the label with the hope of securing a deal.

Puma was officially non-committal when approached for comment early this week. “We have nothing to say regarding this, other than that we do not sponsor or partner with the Zimbabwe Football Association,” said Tim Stedman, Puma’s Senior International Public Relations Manager: Sport Performance.