adminTakudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
THE Chevrons Tour has pledged to pay local professional golfers their dues after a tournament held at Royal Harare some two months ago.
The two entities are embroiled in a cold war as the players feel hard done by the delays in getting their prize monies for a tournament played in April. They were promised to get their winning earnings more than a month after they took part in the tournament.
The Chevrons Tour, a development tour which has tournaments in Zimbabwe and Zambia, has been caught in controversy as professional golfers feel that the Tour was aimed at milking sponsors using them.
The Tour tournament director Tafadzwa Chigumira said they were willing to pay the players but have been facing logistical challenges as the players had not submitted the necessary banking details.
“I think there is something which is going on to discredit the tour. From the beginning, we faced challenges to register and be recognised. We started the Tour last year and everything was never smooth, was it not for the help of the Sports and Recreation Commission.
“There are people who went all out to see that the tour is regarded in a bad light and we are working hard to remain transparent and adherent to clear our name.
“It all started last year when we came on board and we had difficulties with all concerned parties and the same people would even go to clubs to entice them not to give us the courses.
“We have since engaged the players who we owe and we are going to pay them, “said Chigumira.
The Tour, which is based in Zambia, had challenges with the local authorities as they needed clearance from ZIMRA, and it is taking time to put their house in order.
The local players who are supposed to pay tax have been encouraged to be patient as many tournaments are said to be complying with the local revenue authority.
With several tournaments held like the Arenel Pro-Am, NAC Pro-Am among several others, the issue of compliance has not been clear and Chigumira feels they are a subject of unfair treatment as local players also play in some tournaments without challenges.
“I think the tour was subject to sabotage from the beginning as we went through a lot of hurdles. But we are grateful that the Sports Commission and the sponsors have supported us.
“We are willing to pay the players as we have already created a group in which we are communicating with them but some are threatening us. We are not on the wrong side but the players should understand us as we are bound to be garnished by the local revenue authority and it will be us who will be answerable.
“We lost some cash after the Zambia tournament and we don’t want a repeat of the same situation,” added Chigumira.
Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association president Akil Yousuf confirmed that the players are yet to receive their dues and they are still engaging the responsible authorities.
“I am not in a position to comment on the issue but the players have not been paid and they have been engaging us. We are hopeful that they will get what they are owed,” said Yousuf.
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