ALL players named in the Asiagate match fixing scandal are ineligible for national team selection with immediate effect, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announced on Tuesday.
The decision means coach Norman Mapeza’s selection pool has been severely narrowed, with 80 players now unavailable to play for their country.
More sanctions may yet follow for the affected players, with a judge-led committee set to pass down sanctions before the start of the domestic Premier Soccer League season in March.
Some players and match officials could be banned for life from all football activities, including at club level, ZIFA officials have warned.
Retired judge Justice Ahmed Ebrahim leads an Independent Ethics Committee set up to investigate and pass down sanctions on players and match officials who represented Zimbabwe in friendly matches organised by Asian betting syndicates between 2007 and 2009.
Former ZIFA CEO Henrietta Rushwaya has been fingered as the nexus of the corruption in which Zimbabwe players were paid to lose by fixed scores by agents of Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, who is in jail in Finland for fixing activities in that country.
Rushwaya sanctioned the trips to Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand without approval of the ZIFA board.
"Every player who was mentioned in the 'Asiagate' report, regardless of how many matches they played, are suspended and will only be cleared by the ethics committee," ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze said.
"For now, they are not eligible for selection in any national duty commitments.”
The player suspensions are set to affect Zimbabwe's bid to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, whose qualification matches start this month. Zimbabwe faces Burundi on February 29 in the first qualifier.
Among the stars now unavailable for Zimbabwe is Al Hilal winger Edward Sadomba, Sundowns defender Method Mwanjali and striker Nyasha Mushekwi, Ovidy Karuru, Zhaimu Jambo, Washington Arubi, Daniel Vheremu, Khama Billiat, Gilbert Mapemba, Willard Katsande and Thomas Sweswe.
The following list shows the players and officials named in the Asiagate scandal, and the number of corrupt matches in which they took part:
Match Officials (Games Attended)
Robson Sharuko (Herald Sports Editor) 14
Godfrey Japajapa (Administrator) 7
Sunday Chidzambwa (Coach) 7
Luke Masomere (Coach) 6
Ernest Sibanda (Manager) 5
Two Matches
Methembe Ndlovu (Coach); Modecai Sachikonye (Medic)
One Match
Jose Valinhos (Coach); Solomon Makuvaro (Match Commissioner); Cyril Mukweva (Administrator); Joey Antipas (Coach); Edward Chagonda (Medic), Lloyd Maungwa (Medic); Nathan Makanza (Medic); Solomon Mugavazi (ZIFA Board Member)
Players Most Active (By Number of Matches)
Fifteen
Thomas Sweswe
Thirteen
Lionel Mtizwa; Mtshumayeli Moyo
Ten
Eusebio Manuwere
Nine
Gilbert Banda; Johannes Ngodzo
Eight
Justice Majabvi; Danisa Phiri
Seven
Mernard Mupera; Edward Sadomba; Kingston Nkatha; Washington Pakamisa; Method Mwanjali; Richard Mteki
Six
Tsungi Mudzamiri; Edmore Sibanda; Phillip Marufu; Energy Murambadoro; Costa Nhamoinesu
Five
Edward Tembo; Ali Sadiki; Beaven Chikaka; Tafadzwa Dube; Willard Manyatera
Four
Elvis Meleka
Three
Tichaona Ngodzo; Nicholas Alifandika; Oscar Machapa; Milton Makopa
Two
Ovidy Karuru; Pride Tafirenyika; Cuthbert Malajila; Clemence Matawu; David Kutyauripo; Zhaimu Jambo; Washington Arubi; Zephania Ngodzo; Evans Chikaikwai; Daniel Vheremu; Augustine Mbara; Kennedy Chirwa; Brian Katsuruware; Tendai Ramthokwane; Rex Mabeza; Martin Vengesai; Hardlife Zvirekwi; Milton Ncube; Cliff Sekete; Hardlife Mafundi; Knowledge Machona; Khama Billiat; Proud Zireni; Danisa Phiri; Khumbulani Banda; Nyasha Mukumbi; Gilbert Mapemba; Thabani Goredema; Christopher Samakweri; Tawanda Muparati; Thabani Masuku
One
Bekithemba Ndlovu; Charles Chiutsa; Asani Nhongo; Ronald Sengu; Gilbert Mushangazhike; Willard Katsande; Marshal Matenda; Last Chibwiro; Max Nyamupanedengu; Guthrie Zhokinyi; George Magariro; Arthur Mafusire; Carrington Gomba; Wonder Sithole; Thabani Kamusoko; Marvel Samaneka; Edmore Chitato; Tawanda Nyamandwe; Clive Kawinga; Leonard Tsipa; Tawanda Amos Mandicha