The coach of the Zambia team, Bruce Mwape, who is preparing to make his debut at the Women’s World Cup, was accused of sexual misconduct and the case was referred to FIFA last year for investigation, according to a newspaper report. The Guardian. The African team is included in group C along with Spain, Costa Rica and Japan.
Bruce Mwape was accused of forcing players to have sex with him if they wanted to keep their place in the team, according to the report published by the British newspaper on Saturday. Other Zambian coaches and officials were also accused of sexual misconduct and investigated, including the coach of the U-17 women’s team, according to the newspaper.
“If he (Mwape) wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes,” a player who did not want to be named told The Guardian. “It is normal for the coach to sleep with the players of our team,” she added.
Another source who knows the soccer players assured that “they are being threatened with punitive actions if they dare to say anything about what happened.” “The federation turns a blind eye because the women have had good results. It is their way of showing the public and the authorities success and a good image. But behind the scenes, it is very ugly,” he insisted.
Zambia, under Mwape’s guidance, qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which begins this month. The men’s team has never made it to the World Cup.
Zambia football association president Andrew Kamanga confirmed in a message to The Associated Press that the sexual misconduct allegations were referred to FIFA and the Zambian police last year, saying it was “an old story.” ”.
In accordance with the protocol, FIFA said its independent ethics committee would not comment on whether or not there was an ongoing investigation. The Zambian football association launched its own investigation last year but also failed to name any officials, coaches or players involved at the time. The Zambian association said when it made the announcement in September that it was taking the allegations seriously.
On Friday, Zambia earned a stunning 3-2 victory over two-time World Cup winners Germany in a warm-up match for this year’s tournament. Zambia captain and star forward Barbra Banda scored twice, including the game-winner in the 12th minute of added time.
Banda has been at the center of another controversy for the Zambian football association after she was withdrawn from last year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations due to her high testosterone levels, as was Racheal Kundananji, a Madrid CFF player and runner-up. top scorer in the Spanish League (25). The association and the African soccer confederation blamed each other for the mishandling of Banda’s case.
