PSL finds Chihoro guilty in BF ‘juju’ incident

Zim Now Writer

Dynamos and their team welfare manager Richard Chihoro are set to be fined by the Premier Soccer League after they were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.

This follows a controversial half-time “juju” incident during their season-opener against Hwange FC at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo in March.
The judgment was delivered to DeMbare offices yesterday, exactly four weeks after the disciplinary committee had heard the matter.

Both Dynamos and the Premier Soccer League were not prepared to comment on the developments yesterday.

However, sources close to the goings-on confirmed DeMbare had received the verdict.

“The PSL disciplinary committee found the club guilty of all charges and imposed a fine,” said a source.

Chihoro has been out of football for the past six weeks, following his suspension on March 22 to pave the way for investigations, and there was growing anxiety in the DeMbare family over the delays in bringing the matter to finalisation.

Chihoro missed five league games and the Independence Cup final against Highlanders that was played in Mt Darwin.

Some within DeMbare circles felt his continued suspension was not only disadvantageous to the team but was also an infringement of the PSL rules and regulations.

“Chihoro was suspended almost two months ago and was summoned for hearing on April 5. Ideally, judgment should have been released three days after the hearing but the PSL was just silent.

“Dynamos wrote to them on March 21 and again on March 26 and there was no answer. Obviously the team felt disadvantaged because as welfare manager he plays a key role in making sure the well-being of the players is well-taken care of, as well as linking the team with the management.

“That gap is not sustainable for a long period within the establishment. So far he has missed a considerable fraction of the season and we are not sure whether the suspension will be lifted now that the judgement is out,” said a source.

Chihoro landed himself in soup during the first game of the season against Hwange after he was caught on camera running onto the pitch and sprinkling an unknown liquid at the Mpilo End goal that Dynamos were going to attack in the second half.

DeMbare had encountered frustrations in the opening 45 minutes when they created numerous scoring opportunities at the Soweto End, but the goal remained elusive.

DeMbare were convinced there was juju on Hwange’s goal, and the belief was fuelled by the hosts’ goalkeeper Nedrick Madeya, who kept a big white towel spread behind his goal, which he also appeared to invoke prayers on.

This did not go down well with Dynamos and their superstitious fans, who were increasingly getting agitated every passing minute of the game.

Chihoro, not new to the juju controversies, was seen sprinkling some white stuff at the goal in an alleged act of unlocking the “juju” at the Hwange goal.

Chihoro was then suspended from taking part in all PSL-sanctioned matches a few days later with the DeMbare team manager’s licence being provisionally withdrawn and surrendering his PSL accreditation card, until the matter was finalised.

He was not allowed near the team bus, changing rooms or to sit in the technical area during PSL matches.

Fixtures

Today

Simba Bhora v Cranborne Bullets (NSS)

Saturday

GreenFuel v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Herentals (Luveve), Yadah v CAPS Utd (NSS)

Sunday

Dynamos v Triangle (NSS), Sheasham v Highlanders (Bata), Hwange v Bulawayo Chiefs (Colliery)

Wednesday

Black Rhinos v Ngezi Platinum Stars (NSS)