By Makomborero Mutimukulu
Embattled former Zifa chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya has confirmed being in communication with an Asian match-fixer, while Ian Gorowa has challenged those accusing him of corruption to report him to the police.
Rather sensationally, Rushwaya claimed her involvement with a man believed to be brother to convicted match-fixer Wilson Raja Perumal was part of a dangerous undercover operation aimed at exposing the cartel.
“I was working with some undercover detectives from Europe to unearth and expose fixers. This has been a three-month operation . . . a dangerous operation that we carried out but by God’s grace we prevailed,” she said yesterday.
Rushwaya added that the Warriors’ back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Swaziland never featured in her discussions with the match-fixing mafioso.
On the other hand, Gorowa promised to issue a detailed response during the course of the week but took the opportunity to chide Zifa when contacted for comment from his South African base.
“I would rather not talk about it now,” he said, “but I promise to do so next week because there is something we want to establish first.
“But otherwise there is nothing here, it’s a case of people just sensationalising things without facts because if they have (facts) why can’t they just report to the police?”
And the controversial Rushwaya claimed to have briefed former Fifa investigator Terry Steans of her every move.
“I committed to Fifa in 2012, when they invited me to Paris for interviews focusing on the Asiagate scandal, that I would raise the red flag if approached by match fixers.
“When someone suspicious called me some three months ago asking if it was possible to fix (South African) Absa Premiership matches and matches at the (Rio 2016) Olympic Games, I called Terry because I had his contact numbers and he is an a renowned match-fixing investigator. He urged me to document everything and produce a detailed report,” said Rushwaya.
Steans, who headed Fifa’s match-fixing investigation in 2010-2012, confirmed Rushwaya’s story.
“Henrietta Rushwaya sought my advice when approached by persons unknown wanting to talk to her about fixing. She made the decision to play along with the fixer who she suspected was Wilson Raj Perumal to see what information she could gather,” he said.
“I did not work undercover or have any involvement at any of the meetings she attended. I was not party to any discussions she was involved in although she did keep me appraised of her progress.
“I advised HR (Rushwaya) to keep detailed record of every contact she had and to write a detailed report of her investigation. To my knowledge she has done this and will present her findings to authorities.”
Rushwaya, who has been suspended from all football activities by Zifa, reiterated that the upcoming Afcon qualifiers against Sihlangu never featured in her conversations with the match-fixers.
“This one has come as a surprise to me, I know nothing about trying to fix the Zimbabwe versus Swaziland games . . . I know about attempts on the South African league and the Olympics,” she said.
Zifa on Friday suspended Rushwaya from all football activities “pending determination of your case in the Asiagate scandal and the new allegations of your involvement in match fixing and illegal betting in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League and Zimbabwe senior man’s team”.
Her initial ban was lifted by Zifa in January after the seemingly premature closure of the Asiagate scandal.
However, allegations that she is part of a match-fixing cartel that targeted Warriors matches saw the local soccer governing body into reinstating the suspension.
In a case whose main witness is the equally controversial Lee Waguta, the embattled Rushwaya is said to have been working closely with an Asian match-fixer known as “Chief”, suspended Zifa board member Edzai Kasinauyo and former Warriors coach Gorowa to fix matches in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Kasinauyo also denies the accusations and is seeking legal relief. The Sunday Mail
