Bulawayo Chiefs in race with time to pay departing duo

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter

WHILE his countryman Dela Arkoli is expected to fly out to Ghana on Saturday, Wilson Mensah will stay behind for a few days, before leaving for Botswana on a club hunting mission.
But, this will only be possible if Bulawayo Chiefs pay up salaries as well as other allowances owed to the duo and the rest of the team.

Chiefs may be forced to act fast this time, as both players’ work permits expire in the first week of January.
The 2022 Chibuku Super Cup winners last paid their players in June. So dire is the situation at Amakhosi Amahle that Arkoli and Mensah had to survive on handouts from well-wishers as well as the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.
However, both players are pinning hopes on the Chiefs management’s promise that they will be paid their dues by the weekend.
“They have communicated with me and promised to pay my dues tomorrow (today) while l will be booked to fly out on Saturday,” said Arkoli.

“Hopefully they will honour up to their promise. Things have not been easy honestly. We have not had food in the house and recently we had to survive on a donation from the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ). It has been a difficult time and right at this moment the important thing will be for them to facilitate that l go back home.”
Mensah, who is already club hunting, laments their painful treatment at the hands of the Twitter Kings.

“The painful thing is you try to call the authorities and they do not answer calls or respond to text messages. My permit expires on January 7 and l will be going to Botswana to look for a club. If l happen to come back to Zimbabwe it will not be to Bulawayo Chiefs. For months we have not been paid and they keep saying they are organising,” said the Ghanaian.
Mensah arrived in Zimbabwe in 2020. His first port of call was Caps United but the team saw no value in him and they could not allow him to play.

Makepekepe also did not register him with the Premier Soccer League and after feeling he had been reduced to a training aide, the 25-year-old negotiated for an exit in November last year and was warmly welcomed by Amakhosi. His first start was against Makepekepe on May 29. He scored in that match.
— @innocentskizoe