'Taibu behaviour affecting team spirit'

'Taibu behaviour affecting team spirit'

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Posted to the web: 25/02/2009 08:08:51
THE trial of former Zimbabwe cricket captain Tatenda Taibu for alleged assault heard on Tuesday that he had problems in his dealings with team mates and cricketing officials during a recent tour of Kenya.

Taibu is alleged to have assaulted Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) general finance manager Esther Lupepe last October following an altercation over outstanding payments he said were owed to him.

Under cross-examination on Tuesday by Taibu's lawyer Jonathan Samkange, ZC board member Wilson Manase said the team's coach Walter Chawaguta and head selector Kenyon Ziehl had to ask the board to intervene during the tour.

"The team management, players and selectors were saying they were having difficulties working with him so they wanted us to help," Manase said, adding that Taibu's behavior was "affecting team spirit."

Manase, who is also the board's legal adviser, was giving evidence as a witness after he belatedly arrived at the scene of the altercation between Taibu and Lupepe in a travel agency.

Manase said Lupepe told him that Taibu had grabbed her by the neck and pulled her up while she was in a sitting position, demanding that she accompany him to his bank to prove that his monthly payment had not been deposited into his account when it was due.

Lupepe's blouse was in disarray and she was sobbing uncontrollably, Manase said. When he observed her closely, she could hardly move her neck in obvious pain.

Taibu has denied manhandling Lupepe, but said he was under pressure as he needed the money to pay medical fees for his hospitalised wife.

Samkange went on to accused Manase of orchestrating a conspiracy to punish Taibu for questioning the management of board funds and of instructing Lupepe to press charges. Samkange's accusations were vehemently denied by Manase.

Samkange further accused ZC of diverting funds and short-changing players.

Manase also denied those allegations, saying ZC was no longer making as much money as perceived because by the public because Zimbabwe did not regularly host big matches, in the process depriving the association of television rights.

Defending his position, Manase said he had no reason to conspire against Taibu, claiming he was instrumental in negotiating Taibu's return to the Zimbabwe fold after he had prematurely retired from international cricket in 2005.

Magistrate Tapiwa Godzi ordered proceedings to reconvened to Thursday. - AP
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