Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi acquitted of indecent assault
By Sports Reporter
Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi has been acquitted of indecent assault charges against a fellow member of the technical team.
Mlauzi was arrested on his return last October from the COSAFA Cup tournament in South Africa and is being charged with indecent assault.
The offence was alleged to have been committed during a Mighty Warriors camp in South Africa where the country’s senior women’s national team was participating in a COSAFA tournament.
Mlauzi’s accuser who cannot be named on ethical grounds, claimed:
“I went to his room in South Africa to get the money for resistance bands, and that’s when he grabbed my buttocks and said ‘imbondipawo zvinhu izvi’.
“When I stretched my hand to take the money from him, he then grabbed me by the buttocks and pulled me towards him while I was wearing tights and a jersey.
“He started harassing me at the game and when we went to the hotel for a meeting, he harassed me again and I remained behind after the meeting crying.”
She said she told her fellow technical team members “everything, including his request for sex and massages.
“This has affected me so much as there was widespread media coverage.
“My confidence was affected, and worse the football federation which was supposed to protect me, tried to hide the issue, and this has been difficult for me and my family.
“I felt and still feel vulnerable.”
Mlauzi was acquitted by trial magistrate Ethel Chichera.
