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Ray Bande, Senior Reporter
THE Zifa Eastern Region Soccer League never ceases to amaze!
GrayHam FC – the club that was at the centre of the Eastern Region Soccer League during the Bikita Minerals and Tenax FC Premiership promotion boardroom drama – has been ‘relegated’ with only three matches in the 2023 season of the second tier league.
According to a communique from the football regional administration body, dated May 2 and signed off by administrator Fungai Munyoro-Chingaira, GrayHam were given enough time to pay their fines emanating from the Premiership promotion case but they failed to pay in time.
Interestingly, the letter notes that the Eastern Region is currently in spotlight for not following the rules and regulations.
“Take note of our professional interest herein. We hereby advise that you have been relegated from Eastern Region Soccer League with immediate effect as a result of a failure to comply with the ruling of the Disciplinary Committee March 18, 2024.
“Eastern Region is currently in spotlight for not following the rules and regulations ref the landmark ruling at the beginning of the season 2024. As a result, Eastern Region has no choice but to follow recommendations from the Disciplinary Committee’s ruling.
“You have been given enough time to make good your fines but that time has lapsed twice before even a cent was paid. Eastern Region has been asked to observe the rules and regulations and recommendations from the Disciplinary Committee as there are (sic),” reads the ERSL statement.
When contacted for comment, GrayHam FC owner Gray Hama said: “I am sponsoring football and someone is defeating the cause. That is all I can say.”
Although the use of the word ‘relegated’ is not appropriate, it can easily be construed as expulsion of the club from the league for failing to pay a stipulated fine after a hearing.
This publication understands that after the decisions of the Eastern Region Soccer League allegedly self-appointed kangaroo court that set and fined GrayHam FC US$2500 were reversed by the ZIFA Normalisation Committee, a Disciplinary Committee that subsequently presided over the same matter then imposed a US$4 500 fine on GrayHam FC.
GrayHam FC appealed against the outcome but the club found no respite after ZIFA requested for US$5 000 appeal fee, which the club failed to raise and were told their appeal period had lapsed.
Thereafter, the ZIFA Eastern Region Soccer League started sending communication demanding the US$4 500 payment from the club.
GrayHam FC wrote to the Eastern Region Soccer League asking for a payment plan, which was denied.
Nonetheless, the expulsion of Ruwa-based GrayHam FC, two days before the regional football body’s Annual General Meeting, smacks of victimisation of a perceived maverick and competitor.
The outspoken Hama has made clear his intentions to contest for the Eastern Region Soccer League leadership position.
Online Reporter