×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Mutare City win case, promotion

Sport
ZIFA have ruled that Mutare City are the Eastern Region champions after throwing out a complaint by Masvingo United that they had used their player Tafadzwa Mkahlera without clearance.

ZIFA have ruled that Mutare City are the Eastern Region champions after throwing out a complaint by Masvingo United that they had used their player Tafadzwa Mkahlera without clearance.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

The former top-flight side, who narrowly missed promotion into the elite league by a single point after emerging as runners-up to Mutare City, also complained that the Eastern Highlands side used Dylan Chivandire without a reverse international clearance from Gaborone United of Botswana. Gaborone United officials had also indicated that they had not officially released Chivandire, hence he remained their player.

The matter which had threatened to derail the start of the 2016 Castle Lager Premiership season was being handled by the Zifa Players’ Status Committee.

jonathan-mashingaidze-3 Jonathan Mashingaidze

But Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela revealed yesterday that Masvingo’s complaint was thrown out after they failed to pay the necessary player status fees of $4 000.

“Zifa can confirm that Mutare City are the champions of the Eastern Region. Masvingo failed to pay the necessary player status fees,” Gwesela said. “Zifa noted the complaint by Masvingo United was frivolous and it was thrown out. We have also instructed the Eastern Region to institute disciplinary proceedings against Masvingo United,” he said.

Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze had in a letter addressed to Masvingo and copied to the Eastern Region’s administrator Thaddeus Machawira dated December 22, acknowledged receipt of a complaint by Masvingo United to which he promised to take action.

“Zifa is in receipt of your letter dated December 21, 2015 pertaining to the above and hereby acknowledges its contents. The association, by copy of this letter, has requested the Zifa Eastern Region office through Machawira to furnish us with background information on this matter,” Mashingaidze wrote.

“Appropriate action shall be taken in terms of the statutory provisions of the association’s statutes and all parties concerned will be dully advised.” The ruling means Mutare City will for the first time dine with the big boys in the PSL this season.