adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
TENSIONS are simmering in the Triangle camp as the players are unhappy with the allocation of the prize money for their participation in the Chibuku Super Cup.
Triangle, who are battling relegation, are set to host Harare giants CAPS United in a crucial league match at Gibbo tomorrow.
However, the players are not in good spirits after receiving US$100 each for playing in the Chibuku Super Cup.
The team reached the quarter-final stage of the 16-team tournament but were thrashed 4-0 by Black Rhinos and got US$20 000.
The players are hoping to put their troubles behind them and give maximum effort in the remaining five league matches where they have been promised more in winning bonuses.
Triangle are struggling on fourth from the bottom on the log standings and they recently doubled their winning bonuses to US$600 following the team’s NetOne OneWallet Cup victory with a 1-0 win over Dynamos in the final at the National Sports Stadium.
“Of course, we are all looking forward to this match against CAPS United. We have to win that match at all costs but then the morale is not that good,” said one of the players.
“There is lack of trust, I think someone is taking us for a ride concerning the money from the cup competitions.
“Imagine we got US$100 each for the Chibuku Super Cup yet the club got US$20 000 for reaching the quarter-finals.
“It’s just too little because from what has been agreed, the players usually share 40 percent of the earnings from cup competitions. There was no discussion whatsoever this time, we were just told that the club funded our participation in the tournament and needed to recover costs.
“Now we don’t know what will happen with the US$80 000 from the NetOne OneWallet Cup. We are yet to get the money.”
The players are also calling on the club leadership to come out clean on the sharing of the pay-outs for the Mbada Diamonds Cup and the TM Pick n’ Challenge Cup. The TM Pick n’ Pay Challenge Cup was contested by only two teams Dynamos and Highlanders in a one-off final at the National Sports Stadium last month but each of the 14 other teams were given a US$5 000 handshake.
The same will happen with the Mbada Diamonds Cup where only four teams at the end of the season will be participating with the rest of the league sides getting a US$10 000 pay-out.
The players are anxious after being told they might not get a share from that money since they have not taken part.
Triangle have 27 points from 25 starts and they desperately need points to evade the chop. But they will miss the services of their captain William Mapfumo through suspension.
Nelson Merson is also out with injury while Charles Makoto and Blessing Maziwisa were expected to take a fitness test.
Triangle are winless in their last three matches which they lost to Buffaloes, Harare City and ZPC Kariba.
Online Reporter