adminRaymond Jaravaza
HIGHLANDERS reportedly lost over $20 000 in fines as punishment for unruly behaviour by fans in Premier Soccer League matches and the Chibuku Super Cup, leaving the club with a big hole in its bank account.
Bosso is already reeling in a huge debt believed to be close to $1 million and the club bosses have been working flat out to tighten the strings on financial leakages on the club’s purse.
In addition to training marshals to quell potential crowd trouble, the club has been embarking on campaigns to educate its supporters to desist from unruly behaviour that ranges from throwing missiles into the pitch in protest over referees’ decisions and in extreme cases engaging in running battles with the police
But it seems the campaigns are not hitting home.
“The club lost about $12 000 in various fines during the just ended PSL season in addition to another $9 000 in the Chibuku Super Cup competition, which when put together is a significant amount of money that could have been put to better use by the club.
“It’s disheartening that the club goes to great lengths to educate the fans to desist from engaging in violent behaviour, be it at Barbourfields or any other stadium but at the end of the season over $20 000 is lost in fines.
“A single plastic bottle of water thrown into the pitch attracts a fine of $2 000 and it’s the club that suffers at the end of the day,” said a source who chose to remain anonymous.
Club treasurer Donald Ndebele was not readily available for comment on the exact amount that the club lost in the 2018 season.
PSL rules and regulations punish clubs for offences ranging from crowd violence, teams arriving late for matches, teams that refuse to use designated entry points into stadiums among other misdemeanours.
Online Reporter