Hwange have approached the Premier Soccer League (PSL) seeking a replay of Sunday’s match against Dynamos, arguing their players were traumatised following the physical attack on their coaches Nation Dube and Mebelo Njekwa at Rufaro.
Dube and Njekwa did not sit on the bench during the match which the coal-miners lost 4-2 with physical trainer Kenny Nyape and kit manager Andrew Zulu taking charge of the team.
Hwange secretary-general Burzil Dube wrote to the PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele soon after the match, which the coal miners played under protest.
“We are kindly requesting for a replay as the club feels that the players were traumatised and affected psychologically, hence did not put maximum effort as this incident affected them and was also compounded by the absence of coaches who were injured in this barbaric act perpetrated by Dynamos marshals.
“It is our fervent hope and belief that disciplinary action will be taken against Dynamos, whose marshals were bent on bringing the beautiful game into disrepute,” Dube wrote in his letter dated May 6, the day of the match.
Ndebele yesterday confirmed he had received the letter from Hwange and the match report from match commissioner Wilfred Mukuna and said the PSL was going to issue summons against Dynamos, but said all other issues will be dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee.
“We have received a formal complaint from Hwange and the match commissioner’s report and all I can say for now is that we will issue summons against Dynamos and all will depend on the hearing and what the Disciplinary Committee’s verdict will be,” Ndebele said.
He could not be drawn to say what the general rules and regulations prescribe regarding such scenarios.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
In the letter, Dube identified the Dynamos marshals who allegedly manhandled Dube and Njekwa.
“On Sunday 6 May 2012, Hwange Football Club head coach and his assistant Nation Dube and Mebelo Njekwa respectively were assaulted by three Dynamos marshals in the away teams dressing room at Rufaro Stadium just before kickoff. This unfortunate incident which resulted in the two coaches being rushed to the hospital for treatment was witnessed by the fourth official Nkanyiso Moyo. A formal protest was lodged with the match commissioner of the day, Wilfred Mukuna that we were playing the game under protest as our coaches were injured and could not make it to the field of play,” Dube said.
He said a report (OB Ref 4411/12) was also made to the police.
“The marshals who assaulted the coaches are Abraham Kwenda, James Dzamu and Simbarashe Zviitwa. Our technical bench was severely affected as the fitness trainer doubled up as the coach as we sought not to embarrass the league’s sponsors who have invested so much into the development of the country’s Premier league soccer,” Dube said.
Dynamos chairman Keni Mubaiwa had no kind words for the perpetrators of Sunday’s violence and said those responsible, would be brought to book.
