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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO City FC risks a player exodus during the off-season following revelations that the local authority bankrolled club breached their contracts.
Acting City chairman Zenzo Moyo acknowledged that they owed the players and said they were working round the clock to ensure the debts are cleared before the end of this month.
According to players, most members of the squad penned two-year deals at the beginning of the year, but the club paid them half of their first-year signing on fees.
The players also claimed they’re owed three months’ salaries and winning bonuses.
“The team captains (Xolisani Moyo, Zibusiso Sibanda and Mkhokheli Dube) met the club’s executive committee and were told that the salaries will be cleared when council pays its workers. They didn’t give us a timeframe as to when that will be and to keep guessing is not good at all. They’ve breached our contracts and most guys are contemplating moving to other clubs,” said one player.
Moyo appealed for calm saying their dues would be paid soon.
“As a club we understand that it becomes difficult to negotiate with a player you owe hence the club’s efforts to pay them before the end of December. The players need to be patient because almost all clubs are facing challenges in mobilising adequate resources to pay players and we’ve told them they will be paid their dues before the end of the month,” said Moyo.
Chronicle Sport has it on good authority that players like winger Manuel Mandiranga, who was on loan from the Aces Youth Academy, are on their way out because of City’s failure to honour their contracts.
Mandiranga was one of City’s best performers in 2016 alongside skipper Xolisani, striker Trevor Ndlovu, midfielder Sipho Dube, Eddy Nkulungo, Brian Chikwenya and Humphrey Ncube.
Clubs that include Ngezi Platinum Stars, FC Platinum, Harare City and Highlanders are rumoured to have contacted some of the players.
@ZililoR
Online Reporter