The ManicaPost
Sports Reporter
FOOTBAL match venues are now a no go area for controversial women soccer administrator, Cecilia Gambe as she serves her suspension from Zifa following the incident in which she invaded the pitch at Sakubva Stadium in May.
I
n a feat of rage, least expected of a national football association board member, the ZIFA Women Soccer League board member (competitions) failed to contain her emotions in the face of perceived biased match officiating at Sakubva Stadium when she invaded the pitch in the 44th minute and charged towards referee Brighton Chimene.
Gambe, who was shouting at the Rusape referee, Chimene as she invaded the field of play, was apparently incensed by the referees’ decisions against the home team during the Castle Lager Premiership match pitting hosts Mutare City Rovers and How Mine.
Gambe, whose conduct was a bad advert to the beautiful game, instantly left the match venue soon after the incident.
Last week, Zifa finally flexed its muscle and suspended the outspoken women football administrator.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association hereby confirms the suspension of Women football executive committee member, Ms Cecilia Gambe for invading the pitch and threatening a match official, Brighton Chimene during a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match between Mutare City and How Mine played at Sakubva Stadium on May 8, 2016.
“ZIFA has decided to use a stern measure against hooliganism and accordingly, Ms Gambe will face the disciplinary committee on a date to be announced in due course.
“During the period of suspension Ms Gambe is prohibited from attending football matches and football events,” reads an update posted last Friday on the Zifa website.
When contacted for comment soon after the incident, Gambe insisted that she saw nothing wrong with what she did as she was not on Zifa business when she entered Sakubva Stadium.
“What has that to do with me being a Zifa official? I paid my $3 to get into the stadium as a supporter and I was only expressing my love for my team. Whatever I did was in my personal capacity and nothing to do with Zifa.
“After all, how do you know if I was pursuing my personal issue with that referee?
“He could have been owing me some money and probably that was the only time I had found a chance to approach him,” she said.
