Civil Service (Civo) United have backed their defender Charles Mafaiti over match-fixing allegations following an own goal during a TNM Super League match against Mighty Wanderers on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The Nomads won the match 1-0 to tighten their grip at the top of the table in the run-in to the title chase.
During the match, Mafaiti headed the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear Cameroonian forward Thierry Sama Tanjong’s diagonal cross for the lone goal.
Mafaiti. I Courtesy of Civo
Since then, the player has been subjected to ridicule and criticism, especially on social media platforms.
In an interview yesterday, the Civil Servants’ club manager and spokesperson Christopher Longwe said they stand by their player because it is normal for humans to make mistakes.
He said: “It is unfortunate that he [Mafaiti] is being put under the spotlight, but such mistakes happen in football.
“The issue has been blown because the league has reached a crucial stage whereby we were playing against a team that is in serious title contention. We will issue a statement on the matter.”
Meanwhile, TS Agency, the firm which manages Mafaiti, has also backed the player, describing the allegations as “false, malicious and without a shred of evidence”.
In a statement issued on Monday, TS Agency said the allegations have affected the player psychologically and emotionally.
The firm’s co-founder Geoffrey Taumbe said: “We have so far reached out to him and involved counselling professionals to help him mentally and emotionally.”
Part of the statement from TS Agency says: “Football is a game of unpredictable moments. Own goals, while heartbreaking, are a part of the sport experienced by the greatest defenders in the world. To weaponise such a common footballing incident to launch personal attacks and fabricate serious criminal allegations is reckless and damaging.”
Meanwhile, the agency says it is consulting its lawyer on the prospects of taking legal action.
