ZIMBABWE: BRUCE GROBBELAAR PLAYS FOR NATIONAL TEAM

(13 Nov 1994) Nat Sot

Embattled goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar has taken his place in his country's team for the African Cup of Nations.

It's his first major game since the allegations that he deliberately threw matches for bribes.

He's playing for his home country of Zimbabwe, against Zaire.

All eyes were on goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar when he ran out for his country in Harare
Football fans in his home country of Zimbabwe were delighted to see their hero in his national kit.

He was cleared on Saturday by the world football authority FIFA to play.

FIFA came to the decision after examining a preliminary report by the English Football Association.

The English tabloid newspaper "The Sun" alleged last week that Grobbelaar had taken bribes to fix matches, both for his former club - Liverpool - and for Southampton, the team he currently plays for.

Earlier, FIFA had said it could ban the goalie if the F-A's report was damning.

Since he arrived in Zimbabwe Grobbelaar has denied the allegations. And he added that they'd be unlikely to unsettle his game.

There was a party atmosphere at the national sports stadium, with cheerleaders and a band. Some of the crowd chanted "Up with Bruce, down with Sun.

The only pressure from fans in Harare is to stop any goals from Zaire and help Zimbabwe through to the next round of the African Cup of Nations.

And in soaring temperatures, it was clearly thirsty work.

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