adminAllen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
CHIWORORO FC owner and coach Lloyd Munhanga says Zifa Southern Region Division One champions Bantu Rovers signed their striker Leroy Mbewe irregularly.
Mbewe (20) was the 2016 Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two league’s top goal scorer with 26 goals, attracting interest from Premier Soccer League teams which include Highlanders, How Mine and Chicken Inn.
His goal scoring prowess helped Chiwororo win the Division Two league and earn promotion into the Southern Region Division One league for the 2017 season.
Munhanga yesterday angrily accused Bantu Rovers of going behind his club’s back to speak to Mbewe and his family.
“Bantu Rovers showed lack of professionalism because we had no idea they were talking to the boy. We just heard that they had him without our knowledge. From what we gather, they went behind our back and spoke to Leroy’s family and he signed for them,” said Munhanga.
“How can they sign or even process a player’s contract without following proper channels?”
However, Bantu Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda dismissed Munhanga’s claims.
“Of course we are interested in the player, but we haven’t signed anything because we only start preparations for the (2017) season next week. We cannot just sign a player who is contracted to another team as there are procedures to follow. We are going to approach the team when we start preparations and take it from there,” said Sibanda.
Bantu Rovers will be making a return to the topflight if the PSL consents to a resolution by the Zifa Assembly to relegate two and promote four teams.
The Zifa Assembly voted for the resolution at an extraordinary general meeting held in Harare last Saturday, but PSL clubs are believed not to have taken part in the vote. The PSL is yet to publicly respond to the Zifa vote and the case is still pending at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland after the league declared a dispute with the football governing body over the relegation and promotion issue.
Bantu Rovers first played PSL football in 2009 after acquiring Eastern Lions’ franchise. They were relegated after one season and acquired the franchise of Bulawayo Chiefs to return to the topflight in 2014, but again their sojourn didn’t go beyond a season.
If their promotion is confirmed, Bantu Rovers will be joined by other Zifa regional champions Black Rhinos (Northern), Shabanie Mine (Central) and Yadah FC (Eastern) in the expanded PSL for 2017.
— @khumzallen
Online Reporter