adminThe player in question is striker Masimba Mambare whose contract with the Mighty Bulls expired last December.
Mambare was unveiled as one of the 2012 signings for Bulawayo giants, Highlanders. He missed Sunday’s match against Blue Rangers in which Highlanders won 4-0.
He will have to wait longer before his competitive debut for the Bulawayo giants.
In a telephone interview from Kwekwe yesterday, FUZ secretary-general Paul Gundani said it was disturbing to note that professional clubs were prejudicing players from earning a living from playing soccer.
“Footballers earn a living from playing soccer and as such if they do not play their source of livelihood is affected. Unlike in the past seasons where we have a big number of players from the premiership engaging us to help them recover their clearances, this time we have one case which happens to involve Motor Action. Masimba Mambare reported Motor Action to us. His contract expired in December, he played for Motor Action in the Caf Confederation competition which had nothing to do with the local league.
“When Motor Action failed to go beyond the preliminary round, Mambare advised Motor Action that he was leaving for a team of his choice which I understand is Highlanders. However, Motor Action refused to give him a clearance so that he can be registered to play. We have since engaged Zifa with a view of getting the player registered since Motor Action are refusing with the clearance letter,” said Gundani.
Mambare made his first appearance for Highlanders when they played a 1-1 draw with Chapungu in a pre-season friendly match. Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela was optimistic of getting Mambare’s clearance.
“We are in discussions with Motor Action over the player and surely by the end of the week we should be having Mambare’s clearance,” said Tapela.
If Mambare gets cleared, it means he would be available for selection for the Highlanders away tie against FC Platinum set for next week.
Motor Action’s actions cost Mambare a winners’ bonus at the weekend as he watched Bosso pummel Blue Rangers 4-0 from the terraces.
“Come to think of it, this is not fair for the player to miss a game because someone is deliberately refusing to clear a player who does not have a contract. Zifa must move in to protect the players because we cannot continue to have a situation where clubs tamper with players’ source of livelihood and go unpunished. Last year we
had a similar case where Motor Action did not want to clear Charles Sibanda and Bhekimpilo Ncube and this time around they are doing the same to Mambare.
“Zifa must punish them so that clubs do not take players for granted,” Gundani said.
Online Reporter