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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
The Footballers Union of Zimbabwe could be forced to consider legal recourse as protracted efforts to amicably resolve the contentious saga involving striker Obriel Chirinda with ZIFA and PSL have failed.
Chirinda is at the centre of controversy after he allegedly penned two separate contracts with Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum.
The Warriors fringe forward is at Ngezi Platinum, where he is sidelined because the PSL has withheld his playing licence following formal complaints by Dynamos.
He has now missed 11 games for Ngezi Platinum who are struggling in front of goal in the league.
FUZ have been pushing both ZIFA and PSL to bail out the player without success.
And last week, the players’ labour union wrote to ZIFA, for the umpteenth time pleading with the association to intervene and resolve the issue.
But ZIFA told them that they were taking the matter to the Player Status Committee even though neither Dynamos nor Ngezi Platinum had reported the case.
And the player representative body is threatening to take the legal route should ZIFA fail to deliver justice.
“We appreciate your efforts in trying to solve the pending cases we have brought forward of late, and it is commendable.
“However, and for the umpteenth time in the matter of Obriel Chirinda, we are firmly against the matter being dragged to the Players’ Status Committee as we have stated that as far as we are concerned no club has officially filed a claim of dispute against the player at ZIFA for it to be regarded as a case to be determined by the players’ status committee,” read the letter written to ZIFA by FUZ.
“Furthermore, we have made it clear that the Premier Soccer League has already adjudicated the matter when they withheld his licence to play which violated the players’ fundamental human rights to a fair trial and the player has missed 10 competitive games.
“The Premier Soccer League’s stance is also against the principles of natural justice where procedural due process has been circumvented.
“We, therefore, and again ask you to release the players’ licence since the PSL is your affiliate within the next 72 hours and allow Obriel Chirinda to play for his registered club.
“Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to instigate legal recourse against you and the Premier Soccer League without any further notice.
“We also remind you of art. 6 par 3 a) of the FIFA which is mandatory on a national level and kindly ask you to ensure that this provision is complied with by registering the player with his club and allowing him to play competitive matches therefore, we seek your esteemed office for your utmost cooperation in this matter to issue the licence to the player with the urgency it deserves.”
The former Bulawayo Chiefs player was voted the second runner-up in the Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Stars calendar last season after scoring 12 goals, one behind Golden Boot winner Takunda Benhura of Ngezi Platinum.
Online Reporter