Why was ex-Kaizer Chiefs star Abbas Amidu denied bail in Zimbabwe?
Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Brian Abbas Amidu and his co-accused have been denied bail by a Zimbabwean court and will remain in custody pending trial on drug trafficking charges.
Amidu, also known as Tumirai Matsika, appeared in the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court alongside Kudzai “Reuben” Mhlanga after their arrest over the seizure of about 780 kilogrammes of dagga, with an estimated street value of US$78,000 (more than R1.3 million).
The court ordered that the pair remain behind bars as the prosecution prepares for trial.
The arrest has reignited debate around Amidu’s age, with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) recording him as 29, while football databases such as FotMob and Transfermarkt list his birth year as 1990, which would make him 35. The Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe reported that prosecutors described the bust as one of the largest in the Midlands Province this year.
Amidu’s football career included a brief stint with Kaizer Chiefs in 2012 before moving to Black Leopards in South Africa. He later played in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, and represented CAPS United and the Zimbabwe national team, the Warriors.
The ZRP’s statement lists Amidu’s age as 29, but the older age reflected in public football databases has triggered a social media storm, with fans questioning the legitimacy of the younger figure reported in court.
Age discrepancies are not uncommon in football, particularly in Africa, where players have been known to understate their ages to meet youth tournament eligibility requirements or secure professional contracts.
Police allege that Amidu has used multiple aliases and has pending cases in Epworth and Harare under different identities, a tactic investigators say was intended to evade detection.
The stark contrast between his once-promising football career and his current legal troubles has drawn widespread attention across Zimbabwe and southern Africa.
Last week, IOL reported that Robert Mugabe Junior, 33, son of the late former president Robert Mugabe, was arrested again in central Harare for alleged possession of illegal drugs.
Authorities said Mugabe Junior was stopped by police during the night while driving a silver Honda Fit the wrong way along 2nd Street Extension in Harare. During a search, officers reportedly found two small sachets of cannabis (dagga), along with papers and a dagga grinder, in a sling bag in his possession.
The total weight was about two grammes, with an estimated street value of US$30 (approximately R500).
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News