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NewsDay

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Oh poor Dynamos!

Sport
REIGNING Zimbabwean football champions Dynamos have lost their $70 000 for winning the Premier Soccer League (PSL

REIGNING Zimbabwean football champions Dynamos have lost their $70 000 for winning the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title after the league wrote to them on Tuesday demanding a total of $78 700 in outstanding fines.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

The Glamour Boys lifted the PSL title for the third successive year after beating Highlanders and Harare City to the finishing line on goal difference in one of the most intriguing conclusions to the history of the domestic league campaign.

For winning the ultimate prize of domestic football, Dynamos were set to pocket $70 000 in prize money from Delta Beverages — who sponsor the league through their Castle Lager brand.

But the champions will now have to pay the penalty for the behaviour of their fans with the top-flight league management demanding a sum totalling $78 700 in fines ranging from pitch invasion and failure to provide simple things like team sheets.

This leaves the champions with a deficit of $8 700 which they will have to pay the top-flight league management.

Dynamos chairman Keni Mubaiwa said he had not seen the letter from the PSL, but an informed source said the letter had since been delivered to the champions. “I will be able to comment when I get the letter,” was all Mubaiwa could say.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele could not be reached for comment.

Dynamos were the worst affected club by fines mostly from pitch invasions and missile throwing by their supporters.

According to the standing orders and rules, missile throwing or pitch invasion attracts a fine of $8 000 per incident.

Dynamos’ fans are said to have thrown missiles onto the Rufaro Stadium pitch during their Premiership match against Highlanders in April which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

They are alleged to have done the same at Luveve Stadium on July 6 where they lost 1-0 to How Mine.

At the Colliery Stadium in Hwange where they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season following a 2-4 hammering at the hands of Hwange in October, their fans are alleged to have thrown missiles onto the pitch.

Missiles were also alleged to have been thrown by their supporters in their goalless draw with Monomotapa and also in their 1-0 win over Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on October 27.

DeMbare fans are also reported to have invaded the pitch against Caps United and in their last game of the season against Black Mambas.