adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
MASVINGO United might have successfully sought a court interdict to stop the coronation of Mutare City Rovers as the 2015 Eastern Region Division One champions but their heads of arguments hold no water, if documents in possession by this newspaper are anything to go by.
Zifa Eastern Region was set to hand over the league winner’s trophy to Mutare City Rovers at an end of year champions’ coronation ceremony that had been scheduled for yesterday in Mutare.
But the event could not go ahead after the regional football administration body was barred from awarding Mutare City Rovers the champion’s trophy after Masvingo United successfully sought a court interdict to stop proceedings.
Yuna Yuna, as Masvingo are adoringly referred to by their fans, argue that striker Dylan Chivandire was not registered as a Mutare City Player and Mutare City Rovers used Tafadzwa Mukahlera when the player belonged to them.
However, documents made available to this newspaper reveal that Chivandire was registered as a City Rovers player in June while Mukahlera does not appear on the list of 30 players registered by Masvingo United.
It also emerged that by taking football matters to court, Masvingo United risk being banned from football.
In an interview at a local hotel in Mutare on Saturday, where the regional football administration body ended up just awarding the league season’s best 11 players, Coach of the Year and Club Secretary of the Year, Zifa Eastern Region general manager Tedius Machawira said Masvingo risk being banned from football for taking matters to court.
“They have taken us to court while our statutes are very clear that football matters are not supposed to be taken to court. They risk being banned from football simply because of taking football matters to court,” said Machawira.
In court papers filed at the Masvingo Magistrate’s court last Thursday, citing outgoing Zifa Eastern Region chairman Piraishe Mabhena as the first respondent, the applicant (Masvingo United) argues that the crowning ceremony be stopped until the matter between them and Mutare City Rovers is finalised.
“Rovers are alleged to have used improperly registered players that is Tafadzwa Mukahlera and Delayn Chivandire. Applicant avails that the remedy and interdict is available due to the following:
Applicant has a clear and legitimate right to be heard before a decision is made on who should be crowned the ZIFA 2015 Eastern Region champions.
Applicant finished a point behind Mutare City Rovers on the final log standings: therefore if Mutare City Rovers are to be docked 3 points for a single match in which the two players participated, Applicant would be crowned champions.
Applicant will suffer irreparable harm if the ceremony proceeds in that Applicant would be denied the opportunity to pursue their case against Mutare City Rovers and may also be denied the opportunity to be declared winners of the 2015 ZIFA Eastern Region Division One League.
Applicant has no other remedy at law in that the very same people who should be accorded the opportunity to pursue their disciplinary case against Mutare City Rovers are the very same people who are at the forefront of organising the crowning ceremony.
“WHEREFORE Applicant prays that the proposed crowning ceremony set for 19th December 2015 at Wise Owl Motel Mutare be stopped until the matter involving Applicant and Mutare City Rovers is finalised
In an interview, Zifa Eastern Region general manager Tedious Machawira confirmed that Masvingo United had successfully sought a court interdict to stop the crowning of Mutare City Rovers as the 2015 league champions,” reads part of the court documents filed by Collen Maboke on behalf of Masvingo United, citing Mabhena, Zifa Eastern Region vice chairman Cyril Mukwewa, secretary Simba Wisdom, Finance officer David Muchena and Machawira as the respondents.
Nonetheless, Bulawayo based veteran veteran football administrator and lawyer Tavengwa Hara, who once handled the affairs of Dylan Chivandire expressed shock after learning of Masvingo United’s court interdict.
“I really do not know what the people of Masvingo United are thinking. Dylan Chivandire has got the reverse clearenmce that enabled him to play for Chicken Inn and Motor Action in the Premiership upon his return from Gaborone United in Botswana. To me the argument that the player does not have international clearance is nonsensical,” he said.
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