Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere
HIGHLANDERS Football Club has been hammered with a massive 27-point deduction in the Zifa Bulawayo Junior Serie A League after fielding a “ghost player” in multiple matches, triggering an earthquake in the league standings.
At the heart of the scandal is Rockey Muleya, who featured in nine of Bosso under-15’s 13 matches despite not being cleared by his parent club, FMSA Umguza. The breach saw nine rival teams gifted free 3–0 wins, flipping the table upside down.
“I can confirm that the Highlanders Under-15 side has been docked 27 points after they used an uncleared player, Rockey Muleya,” said Zifa Bulawayo chair Francis Ntuta. “The decision was made two weeks ago after a thorough review.”
The beneficiaries of Bosso’s blunder include Young Flying Stars, Alibaba Foundation, Chicken Inn, Bulawayo City, Cowdray Park, Tigers, River Plate, FMSA Umguza and Zebra Revolution, each handed three precious points.
Highlanders have gone from contenders to near-bottom dwellers, now sitting second from last with just two points and a painful goal difference of -28. Their last match against cellar-dwellers Iminyela Timers was abandoned.
The only team doing worse than Bosso, Iminyela, have zero points and a goal difference of -53.
Contacted for comment, Bosso’s spokesperson Nozibelo Maphosa kept it tight. “Kindly come back to me later and I will give our full position,” she said.
Meanwhile, the top of the table is heating up with Realstars FC leading the charge on 32 points, closely trailed by Chicken Inn on 30.
Rockey Muleya may have rocked the boat but it’s Highlanders who are left sinking.
