The battle to secure a Premiership berth continues in the Zifa Central Soccer League after a two-week break, with leaders Hardbody locked in a vicious contest against their fiercest challengers Tripple B.
Hardbody, who are perched atop the log with 65 points, visit Silo United at Mbizo Stadium tomorrow, while Tripple B, trailing by three points, host tricky Tongogara at Dulibadzimu Stadium on the same day.
With the race now being a two-horse race, the league aspirants’ respective matches could be turned into dead rubbers by the outcome match-fixing cases whose judgment is expected to be passed today.
Hardbody are accused of using a fraudulently-registered player as well as bribing a match official.
The busmen were on Wednesday night made to wait to know their fate, as the disciplinary committee postponed their ruling on the alleged match-fixing cases.
After the cases were heard last Saturday, the verdict was expected to be announced on Monday, before it was made certain that it would be made on Wednesday night and was to be announced yesterday.
But again, the committee has kept on dragging their feet in dealing with the cases, leading to the delay in the passing of the much-anticipated verdict.
The Reginald Chidawanyika-led three-man panel of law-practitioners was said to be making endless consultations on the case which has proved to be complex.
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Central Region chairman Patrick Hokonya was adamant the matter would be put to rest before today’s games.
“The ruling has again been postponed and will be passed tomorrow (today) afternoon at 2pm. “I understand the guys who are dealing with the matter were still consulting. They are consulting in line with football statutes,” said Hokonya.
The cases have plunged the region chaos, coupled with the unnecessary two-week break which had a toll on the title contenders’ rhythm.
If the Gweru-based busmen are cleared of any wrongdoing, they would narrow their focus on winning their two relatively easy remaining matches to earn Premiership status.
In the event they are found guilty they risk losing points which would open a wide passage for Tripple B to march to the podium.
