FERWAFA Statement on Bribery Allegations made by CAF Referee Pavaza
Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) is shocked by the remarks made by Namibian CAF Referee Jackson Pavaza claiming to have been bribed to manipulate the result of the 2019 AFCON Qualifier between Rwanda and Cote d’Ivoire held on September 9, 2018 at Stade de Kigali.
Pavaza was in charge, while three other Namibian officials, David Shaanika, Shoovaleka Nehemia and Matheus Kanyanga, were his assistants.
Pavaza made the bribery allegations on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 as reported in a Namibian Publication-namibiansun.com.
Below are details of the statement:
On Friday, September 7, 2018, After the Match Coordination Meeting held at Rwanda Football Federation, chaired by Match Commissioner Mike Letti from Uganda, the four Namibian match officials were paid USD 247 as extra expenses incurred by the quartet as confirmed by the Namibian Football Association (NFA) as mandated by article 36 & 37 of the 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying Regulations. However, the referees claimed that there were other extras that were incurred on their flight to Kigali which needed to be paid also.
On Saturday, September 8, 2018, Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) Management spent the whole day in an Ordinary General Assembly held at Hotel des Milles Collines.
The operations of the General Assembly ended later at midnight when FERWAFA Commissioner of Competitions Eric Ruhamiriza was informed by Referee Pavaza verbally and through a whatsup message about the remaining unpaid extra receipts amounting to USD 237 on Sunday, 9/9/2018. (Mr. Ruhamiriza thought this amount of money was for each referee).
On Sunday, September, 9, 2018, Mr. Ruhamiriza alongside General Secretary Uwayezu Francois Regis prepared a total of USD 948 to be shared among the four officials with each set to be reimbursed USD 237 and alongside Competitions Commissioner Eric Ruhamiriza, the two FERWAFA officials went to Hotel des Milles Collines on Sunday morning, 11am, met the referees in open public, at the terraces of the hotel, gave them their extras as they had requested.
It was at this moment that Pavaza brought to the attention of FERWAFA officials that the money which was requested for the extra expenses incurred amounted to a total of USD 237 not a USD 948 as FERWAFA had prepared.
The FERWAFA Officials advised Pavaza to proceed with his preparations of officiating the match whose kick-off was at 15:30 at Stade de Kigali and then payment of the agreed USD 237 would be done after the game since the two FERWAFA officials had no changed money equivalent to USD 237 as demanded. Pavaza agreed to have the payment done after the game.
Upon departing for Kigali International Airport on Sunday night, Pavaza was given and signed the receipt of USD 237 in presence of match commissioner Mr. Mike Letti.
What really happened was miscommunication on the exact amount of money that was demanded by Pavaza in his initial communication to Mr. Ruhamiriza which should not be taken as form of bribery as alleged by Namibian referee Pavaza.
With extensive knowledge of CAF Regulations, FERWAFA can never and will never be indulged in any form of corruption that goes along the way in jeopardizing the high level of integrity and professionalism of the game.
Source: Ferwafa.rw
