Fifa’s Sepp Blatter met Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe for talks on Monday after the head of world football arrived for a two-day visit to a country where the game is mired in a match-fixing controversy.
Blatter, who arrived earlier in Harare on a private jet, inspected training facilities that urgently need funding amid Zimbabwe’s troubled economy, and pledged $1-million over four years for football programmes in the Southern African country. Another $500 000 would be provided to support training under the Fifa’s worldwide Goal Project.
“Football is more than kicking a ball,” Blatter said at a news conference. “I do not come to Africa to impose European football, I respect particularities and culture. Africa has more talent than Brazil but Africa’s talent is not yet developed.”
Blatter had been scheduled to accompany Mugabe to a women’s international match against regional neighbour Malawi, but officials said later that Mugabe did not attend because of a scheduling conflict.
Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors women’s team beat Malawi 8-2.
An advance party of four Fifa officials, including two match-fixing investigators, arrived on Sunday.
Last year, Zimbabwe captain Method Mwanjali and four teammates admitted taking money to lose matches on a 2009 tour to Thailand and Malaysia. Zimbabwe lost 3-0 to Thailand and 6-0 to Syria and the players said they were paid between $500 and $1 500.
Zimbabwe Sports Minister David Coltart said on Monday he hoped the Fifa team, which includes its head of security Chris Eaton, would recommend punishment for those found guilty.
‘Asiagate’
“Hopefully Fifa will stick by the [Zimbabwe] government’s determination to deal with corruption,” Coltart told the Associated Press. “We expect them to endorse that there has been criminality and prosecution must follow.”
Mugabe told the state broadcaster on the steps of his official State House offices he was “honoured” by Blatter’s visit.
“It is a great visit from the most powerful man in football. We hope a bit of his power remains with us,” said the 87-year-old Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
Blatter then met with children training on a football pitch outside Harare.
Coach Matthew Makuwerere said the sport lacked training facilities, adding that it had long stifled young people’s dreams of becoming professional players.
“We hope player development we have been wishing for will now be realised,” he said.
Eaton is scheduled to meet with Coltart, police commanders and the state Sports and Recreation Commission– all of whom have assisted administrators in probing the match-fixing in 2009, known in local football circles as “Asiagate”.
Zimbabwe FA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said Eaton would study corruption reports compiled by his organisation. He also said the national body would be guided by Fifa on prosecution and any life bans on players and a member of the coaching team who accepted money.
Punishments for the Zimbabwe players could be part of a new wave of crackdowns on match-fixing in world football. Similar investigations are also under way in Finland, Italy, Greece and, at a lower level, in Malaysia and South Africa.
“We can’t intervene in the early stages of investigations but when offenders are found guilty they will be suspended or banned for life,” Blatter said. – Sapa-AP