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Fungai Muderere
FORMER Premier Soccer League outfit Zimbabwe Saints is a house on fire!
Last weekend, only 19 club members physically attended the club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) amid revelations that the club’s financials are in shambles.
The meeting was graced by 19 Chauya Chikwata members, while 35 sent apologies. That meant 54 out of 78 official members gave the meeting the go-ahead.
In 2023, Zimbabwe Saints, who are fondly known by the moniker Chauya Chikwata, are said to have raised US$9 856 through contributions made by club legend Gibson Homela, Vincent Pamire, Felix Dzumbunu, Ishmael Kaguru, Lloyd Munhanga, Never Nduru, Lovejoy Mugadza, Matambanashe Sibanda, Muzondiwa Mugadza and Daniel Bingadadi among others.
It turned out to be yet another indifferent season for Zimbabwe Saints as they were expelled from the Zifa Southern Region Division One League after failing to fully pay the association’s affiliation fees and referees.
According to the club’s financial statements that were presented by the club’s former chief executive officer Lloyd Munhanga, who is now the interim executive chairman, Zimbabwe Saints had US$12 418 income that saw them register a US$2 562 net loss.
The former country’s elite football league champions are not in good standing with Zifa as they owe US$1 390 affiliation fees after only paying a paltry US$10 in the season that they were shown the exit.
Affiliation fees in the league range between US$1 500 to US$2 500 for both new clubs and league’s returnees and Saints recently tried to reduce their debt by paying US$100.
The club’s financial “indiscipline” saw them pay referees a total of US$752 before they were kicked out of the league together with Makhandeni Pirates and Mountain Climbers.
“In the absence of gate takings, our only source of income remained as membership contributions. Commercial revenue such as sponsorship was difficult to attain as a result of the hazard handling of business and ever increasing reputation of non-accountability. Merchandising could not take. It remains a mystery to us where revenue in the form of rentals paid for the clubhouse are being channelled to. It is our understanding that US$1 500 is generated monthly by the clubhouse. This amount alone in the Division One League we participated in, would suffice for home matches, covering expenses such as referees fees, security, transport for technical staff and players and food and refreshments,” said Munhanga.
He added: “There is definite need to pursue this avenue diligently to give relief to office bearers who have resorted to using personal resources to fund club activities, mainly for transportation of players and technical staff to and from games. In most cases this resulted in players being picked up in batches which in itself resulted in instances where players arrived late for games.”
Impeccable sources alleged that a senior executive who fell out of favour with may have been pocketing US$1 500 rentals by the tenant at Zimbabwe Saints Clubhouse.
Homela, who was voted back as club’s Board of Trustees member, a duty he assumed together with Dzumbunu, Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo, John Nyumbu, Ishmael Kaguru and Martin Mabvira, has called for unity in the Chauya Chikwata camp.
“I call upon the entire Zimbabwe Saints family, former players, former current and administrators, members and supporters to please come together and unite. I hear people saying Homela akawuraya Zimbabwe Saints saka nhasi ndati ndadzoka kuzoimutsa. Come-on board with me and let’s restart this once mighty giant for our children. I am only here to make sure that the team goes back to the playing field and not for any personal gain,” said Homela.
Meanwhile, early this week, Zifa Southern Region spokesperson Blessing Mbwanda revealed that four Division One clubs CIWU, Indlovu Iyanyathela, DRC and Binga Pirates are facing the axe amid revelations that they are also not in good standing with the league.
The clubs are said to be owing the league substantial amounts of affiliation fees which they were expected to fully pay in the past season.
In that regard, Mbwanda said they have since written to the four clubs to remind them that they owe the league.
Online Reporter