BANTU ROVERS have paid $40 000 for the Plumtree Chiefs franchise to complete their return to the Premier Soccer League in a deal considered more of a “swap”.
FORTUNE MBELE/THANDIWE MOYO
Wilbert Sibanda, the Bantu secretary, collected the clearance form from Zifa offices yesterday, but was not available for comment to confirm the deal.
“It is more of a swap deal because Chiefs are now a developmental side of Bantu Rovers. They paid $40 000 and Zifa also got its share as owners of the franchise. We also asked them to look at the issues of assets and liabilities so that club licensing rules are properly followed,” a Zifa source said yesterday.
“Otherwise, there is nothing that could have stopped the deal from going ahead.”
Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela had earlier confirmed that there were a number of issues that their legal team had to look into before the merger was approved.
“We received the paperwork yesterday (Monday) and the legal team has started working on it. At the moment I cannot say how long this will take, but we will advise as soon as this is completed,” he said.
Asked what this would mean to the Bantu Rovers’ Division One franchise, Gwesela said: “Those are some of the things that the legal team is looking at, but we do not want to pre-empt the details of the deal. We will advise of any developments.”
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Plumtree Chiefs, formerly known as Bulawayo Chiefs, were promoted to the Premier Soccer League for the 2014 season having finished top of the Zifa Southern Region Division One League, but had made it clear they don’t have the financial muscle for the Premiership. PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said they were still waiting for Zifa to finalise their paperwork.
“At the moment, the issue is being handled by Zifa. We have not received anything from them. There are a number of issues that we would also have to look at the moment we get the paperwork. At the moment (Plumtree) Chiefs are still registered with us. Invoices for affiliation fees were sent to them as well,” he said.
Sibanda said earlier in the day: “I am in Harare at the moment. We will issue a statement, we are still talking.”
Meanwhile, Warriors star midfielder Danny “Deco” Phiri is eyeing a move to the returnees Bantu Rovers.
Phiri has not been training at Chicken Inn, where he has a running contract and the fast food outlets side says they are waiting for his South Africa-based manager Fortune Chisale before a decision can be made on the future of the player.
“I want to move, but these guys are refusing,” Deco said yesterday. Phiri started training with Chicken Inn on Monday and yesterday club secretary Tavengwa Hara confirmed that the player has indicated that he wants out.
“The truth of the matter is that Danny wants to move, but he started training yesterday (Monday). He has a contract that runs until the end of the year and if ever he wants to move, there are proper channels that have to be followed. We are just waiting to hear from his manager Chisale when he comes back into the country,” Hara said.
Chicken Inn have placed a $50 000 tag on Phiri, who has also been linked with a move to Highlanders.
Bantu boss Methembe Ndlovu, who has an array of football connections in Belgium, France and the United States, wants the player to fortify his midfield should the deal go through.
