Clubs must shut up, accept PSL fines

Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ win over How Mine in the Mbada Diamonds Cup final on November 30 marked the end of an eventful 2013 Premiership action. The victory brought joy to the Bosso faithfuls who had gone for seven years without major silverware in their cabinet. By winning the Mbada Diamonds Cup, Bosso were rewarded with a whopping $130,000 prize money.

This competition was the country’s richest tournament, with Highlanders laying their hands on the trophy after just four matches.
Along the way to the final, Bosso had knocked out Triangle in the opening round, dumped out Buffaloes in the quarter-finals then sailed past Harare City in the semi-finals to set a final date with How Mine.

The final, played at Barbourfields Stadium which was full to capacity as organisers had preferred to maintain the $1 gate charge and after outclassing How Mine, Highlanders’ fans scaled the perimeter fence and celebrated right in the playing field.

No doubt, the scenes at Emagumeni were exquisite with fans over the moon having last seen their team winning a major cup in 2006 when they were crowned league champions.

The kind of celebrations that Highlanders supporters embarked on when they failed to contain themselves and control their emotions cost the club $8,000.

At the beginning of the season the Premiership affiliates agreed on fines that will be levied on clubs whose followers misbehaved and many took it for granted and let the bill go through.

It is every club’s responsibility to account for its followers and as such, whenever the fans are naughty, it is the club which suffers.
Last week, clubs were shocked when the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League revealed that they would amass a staggering $274,250 for disciplinary offences and fines.

According to a PSL circular sent to clubs, the clubs were informed about how much they owe to the league.
The clubs reacted by taking a swipe at the PSL deliberately choosing to forget that they are the ones who agreed to the fines at the beginning of the year.

The Premiership wheels of justice must not be moved around to suit a certain constituency as club executives know that rules are there to protect the interests of soccer.

No amount of wailing can lead to a reversal of fines, the clubs affected must just own up and pay their dues.
If the PSL reverse the fines, they will be setting a bad example.

No club is bigger than football and unfortunately or fortunately for others, the league has to show that there is no room for indiscipline in our football by making the so-called big clubs that command a huge following own up to their fines.

Premiership champions Dynamos were hardest hit as they contribute a chunk to the $65,500 which was mostly accumulated from pitch invasions and missile throwing by their followers. The missile throwing or pitch invasion attracts a fine of $8,000 per incident.

DeMbare supporters’ rowdy behaviour has cost their team a huge chunk from their championship pickings as the Harare giants were rapped for seven missile throwing or pitch invasion incidents costing the club $56,000.

Dynamos’ fans threw missiles at Rufaro Stadium on April 21 against Highlanders when they played to a 1-1 draw, at Luveve Stadium on July 6 where they lost 1-0, at the Colliery Stadium where they suffered their big season 2-4 defeat to Hwange on October 2, in their goalless draw with Monomotapa and their 1-0 win against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on October 27.

DeMbare fans only invaded the pitch twice against Caps United and on their last game of the season against Black Mambas a fortnight ago.
This meant that Dynamos, who won the championship which has a $70,000 prize, would have gone home with just $4,500 after settling the fines.

Just like in the Premiership standings, cash-strapped Bulawayo giants Highlanders are behind Dynamos on the fines table contributing $26,550 to the PSL.

Highlanders fans’ disorderly conduct cost the club $24,550 with the difference accumulated from coach Kelvin Kaindu’s dismissal when they beat Triangle 2-1 at Gibbo Stadium on April 6.

Bosso’s contribution to the delay in kickoff of their match against Hwange on June 2 also cost the club which was later fined $500 after their players got five yellow cards in their September 4 encounter with Monomotapa.

Highlanders’ chunk would have been taken from the Mbada Diamonds Cup prize money and the Bulawayo giants, who had received $50,000 for being runners-up in the Premiership, would have been left better than DeMbare.

Highlanders would have managed to pay their players’ bonuses and the $30,000 would have gone a long way towards cushioning the cash-strapped club.

Another of the country’s most followed clubs Caps United was not spared its supporters’ unruly behaviour who failed to control their tempers and threw missiles in two of their league games involving Dynamos and Highlanders.

Caps United also failed to account for gate takings for matches against Motor Action, Buffaloes and Shabanie Mine and were slapped with a $2,000 fine for each game.

The Green Machine, who are also reeling from financial challenges like most clubs, are counting $22,000 losses for their offences.
Relegated Black Mambas are fourth on the undisciplined list as they were fined $14,000 followed by Hwange on $9,500.

Chicken Inn, Buffaloes and Monomotapa were the least affected as they have $500 fines each after their players picked five yellow cards in some matches.

A highly placed Premiership source said the PSL would deduct the fines from clubs’ prize money.
“What has always been the case is that clubs that would not have paid anything in regards to fines have part of their prize money catering for the penalties. The other option is to get a payment plan from the affected club,” said the source.

The PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele told Chronicle Sport that clubs would have to come up with a payment plan.
“We will not garnish prizes but clubs will have to come up with a payment plan,” Ndebele said.