ZIFA Referees Committee acting chairperson Bryton Mudzamiri has dismissed allegations that suspended ZIFA executive committee member Bryton Malandule still has firm control of proceedings at the referees’ committee.
Mudzamiri told Chronicle that he, not Malandule, is fully in charge and responsible for match officials. He said:
Can we run football on rumours? I don’t think so. I am in charge, and not Malandule.
It is unfortunate that our football is contaminated, and there is too much hate speech.
However, sources told Chronicle that Malandule was still in control of operations of the committee and Mudzamiri constantly consult him before engaging other members of the referees’ committee. Said the source:
Mudzamiri might claim to be running things in that committee, but everyone knows that that is not what is actually happening on the ground.
Malandule still has a big influence on what happens, he has firm control of proceedings, with Mudzamiri constantly consulting him first before engaging other members of the referees’ committee.
Malandule was chairperson of the referees’ committee at the time of his suspension by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
He was suspended on 16 November 2021 alongside other ZIFA board members namely president Felton Kamambo, Philimon Machana, Sugar Chagonda, Premier Soccer League chairperson Farai Jere and Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League chairperson Barbra Chikosi.