Another bruising boardroom battle is on the cards before the Arbitration Court (AC) after Castle Premiership football side Hwange filed an appeal against the Zifa Appeals Committee following a ruling on their match against Dynamos. The Zifa Appeals Committee found Dynamos guilty of perpetrating violence against Hwange coaches Nation Dube and Mebelo Njekwa before their league match at Rufaro Stadium on April 15, but allowed them to keep the three points after their 4-2 win.
Report by Wellington Toni
The two coaches failed to sit on the technical bench for the duration of the match, which went ahead for security reasons after Hwange had threatened not to play. Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze confirmed receiving communication from Hwange and has since written to the Muchadeyi Masunda-led court to obtain appeal charges before hearings can commence.
“I can confirm that we have received communication from Hwange which we have forwarded to Masunda’s committee. I spoke to Masunda on the issue and we are just waiting to get the appeal charges.
“We sent the papers on Tuesday and that is now work in progress and they (AC) should get back to us anytime soon,” Mashingaidze said.
Hwange secretary-general Burzil Dube said they were worried about the delay as they had filed their notice of appeal on September 6.
“This is a follow up to my correspondence I emailed to you (that you have since confirmed receiving) on 6 September 2012 concerning the above-mentioned subject where I advised your office on Hwange Football Club’s intention to appeal against the recent Zifa Appeal judgment.
“I am once again appealing to your esteemed office to assist on the way forward, i.e. appeal charges and other related issues as we seek to have this case deliberated by the Court of Arbitration.
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“It is my fervent hope, belief and trust that you will respond to my request at your earliest convenience as we seek to bring sanity to the world’s beautiful game,” Dube wrote to Mashingaidze on Monday.
Arbitration processes take longer as evidenced by the Tripple B-Hardbody case over one player Tatenda Chingarah which started last October, but was only concluded in March this year. An earlier decision, reached by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee had fined Dynamos and ordered a replay of the match, but the Zifa committee chaired by Tererai Gunje overturned the decision and gave the points to Dynamos despite finding them guilty of violence.
The decision raised a lot of eyebrows in the football industry with some football pundits accusing the Zifa Appeals Committee of ignoring basic football rules and past and relevant incidents. Hwange argued that Zimbabwe had managed to secure a replay against Egypt in 1993 after former coach, the late Reinhard Fabisch, was hit on the head before a match. The conditions on the day, before, during and after the match made it impossible for the players to perform normally.
The committee on the other hand ignored the above example and instead cited a case where former Dynamos midfielder Memory Mucherahowa was head-butted before a 1998 Champions League final against Asec Mimosas, but the match still went ahead.
Dynamos failed to get a replay despite an appeal being lodged with Caf. Last week’s decision saw Dynamos move to the top of the log standings over Highlanders on goal difference and on Wednesday, the defending champions opened a two point lead after beating Harare City 1-0.
On the same day, Highlanders drew 0-0 with Chicken Inn. Dynamos have 49 points, but the Zifa Appeals Committee decision now falls away until the arbitration court makes a final and binding determination.
