adminCASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League side Highlanders FC have no claim to Ishmael Ben Munsaka as the promising youngster was properly registered by Bantu Rovers, the Zifa Southern Region Disciplinary Committee has ruled.
In a ruling delivered mid-week, the Godwin Sengweni chaired committee noted that the letter used by Bantu Rovers to register Munsakwa was legitimate and was not contested by Highlanders.
The two sides were before a hearing last Friday (24 June) as DC ruled that the clearance letter that Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede wrote to Munsaka was effective.
The DC’s vice-chairman Stanley Ntenezi said in arriving at the judgment they considered the clearance letter and ruled that Highlanders had released the player hence could not dictate where he goes to.
“What is important is that Highlanders wrote a letter clearing the player and releasing him from his contract so while the club came with other letters stating Munsaka had said he will move elsewhere but our reasoning was that once you clear someone you cannot dictate their future,” said Ntenezi.
Highlanders had accused Bantu Rovers of using underhand tactics to lure Munsaka through offering the boy’s father a housing stand but the Division One side insisted they had done nothing wrong as the boy approached them with a clearance.
Bosso had alleged their investigations revealed an official at Bantu who used to work for them was behind the move.
In their complaint, Highlanders said they had given the player a clearance after “false representation” by his guardian, Tsitsi Chikerama who had sought the release of Munsaka so as to allow him to return to school in Victoria Falls.
The player turned out for the Young Warriors at the 2014 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games held in Bulawayo.
According to correspondence seen by this reporter, Chikerema, who had entered into a contract with Highlanders on behalf of Munsaka, told the club they wanted the boy to resume studies at Mosi Oa Tunya High School in Victoria Falls resulting in the club giving him as clearance letter.
Munsaka’s contract with Highlanders had been scheduled to run for three years beginning last year and the club had the first option of renewal.
Bantu Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda all along insisted they had not “poached” the player saying Munsaka approached them as a free agent. Other members of the disciplinary committee include Shepherd Chamunorwa and Zibusiso Ncube who are both lawyers.
@rasmthembo
Online Reporter