Embattled Abukari Damba, who is embroiled in a bribery scandal involving the Black Meteors and the Iranian national team, has declared his innocence and optimism of coming out clean by the time the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is through with its investigations.

The former Black Stars and RTU goalkeeper finally broke his loud silence when he spoke to the Graphic Sports on phone last Wednesday after he had been referred to the GFA Disciplinary Committee for further hearing.

Earlier on Tuesday, Damba, who had been asked to step aside as the goalkeepers' trainer for the Meteors while investigations continued, was summoned to give evidence before the GFA Emergency Committee together with six Black Meteors players -Eric Nii Baah, Tuaha Khamix, Emmanuel Allan, Jonathan Quartey, Kennedy Korli and Sampson Cudjoe who have been implicated in the bribery scandal.

Perhaps with victory in sight, the ever-confident Damba was said to have appeared at the meeting in a white attire to narrate his side of the story in the presence' of FA officials, Meteors Management Committee members and the six players in the round table conference.

He maintained that he acted in good faith and had no doubt in his mind that he would be absolved of any wrongdoing after proving his innocence to the FA officials on Tuesday.

"With my track record as a national goalkeeper and coach, there is no way I could have done what I am being accused of. As far as I am concerned I acted in good faith", he emphasised.

"I'm an honest man and I’ll remain honest always".

The visibly disturbed Damba said the bribery allegation levelled against him had shattered his entire family, giving him cause to worry about the situation.

"I’m now waiting for my father's advice to know my next line of action", he revealed.

According to him, the evidence given by the players at the meeting also ruled out any suspicion of bribery.

As to how come Tuaha Khamix found reason to report the matter to Coach Jones Attuquayefio in Iran after his interaction with the player, Damba responded thus: "that is left to him, and posterity will judge him for that".

Damba allegedly attempted to influence the six players with a $1000 bait voted by some gamblers in Iran to ensure a 0-2 loss by the Meteors in last week Thursday's international friendly which went 4:2 in favour of the Asians in Tehran.

It was alleged that after managing to convince a number of the players with the pretext of securing them foreign contracts via those 'agents', Tuaha Khamix decided to report the matter to his head coach who in turn informed the leader of delegation, Randy Abbey.

Source: Graphic Sports