Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
THE Zimbabwe Saints and Golden Lions’ fate hangs on football statutes and nothing else.
This is the bold message from the Zifa Southern Region management.
This may could all but throw over 70 players and coaches onto the streets. This would be a tragedy for the game as Lions held hopes of a football future for Matabeleland North youths while Saints is still being revived and hoping to perpetuate the club’s rich history and legacy.
In an interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub, the hardworking region spokesperson Blessing Mbwanda acknowledged that the two teams who were excluded from this year’s league programme, for failing to pay requisite membership and affiliation fees had taken up the issue with lawyers and the Zifa executive committee led by Nqobile Magwizi.
“We are aware that they have taken their cases up. Golden Lions wrote to the national executive in Harare and were advised to follow the football grievance channels. They were asked after their letter to pay the US$5 000 appeal fee,” said Mbwanda.
He said Golden Lions then wrote to Zifa to say their letter had never been an appeal but a request for the national association to have a look at their case.
The Victoria Falls team had previously said they had not paid on time because they were of the impression that the Zifa Southern Region Assembly which set on March 25 was the one to approve their promotion first, pass necessary budgets and affiliation fees.
“We are aware of their communication with Zifa and they have written to us. They (Lions) did not even register their players nor pay affiliation and registration fees, how do we attend to anything involving them when they did not register nor affiliate with us,” said Mbwanda.
Zifa wrote to Golden Lions on 14 April 2025: “The Zimbabwe Football Association acknowledges receipt of your submi9ssion regarding the matter under consideration. We wish to inform you that your case will be allocated to the Zifa Appeals Committee for further deliberations as per the association’s regulations and procedures.
“Please be advised that the fees for appeals are set at US$5 000. This amount must be paid in full prior to the commencement of the appeal process. Kindly ensure that the payment is processed, and proof of payment is submitted to Zifa offices.”
Martin Sibanda the Golden Lions chairman then responded: “I am in receipt of your letter dated 14 April 2024 regarding the allocation of our case to the Zifa Appeals Committee. Please note that I sent you a letter of complaint citing an unfair removal of our team from the Southern Region (Dated 05.04.25). It was not necessarily an appeal but a complaint. (Please refer to that letter as all the reasons were stated.
“On the 9th Of April 2025, you wrote to the Chairman of the Southern Region requesting their position regarding our expulsion. To Note are the 2 issues you raised. 1. The rationale behind the determination made, including minutes of the relevant meeting and agenda items discussed.
2. Reference to the applicable sections of the constitution that informed the decision.
In that letter, you also copied us in, and we are eagerly waiting for their response as we should also have received it.”
In the letter also sought to have the Zifa Southern Region fixtures halted until the issue of their expulsion was resolved.
But Zifa Southern Region fixtures have gone ahead undeterred.
On 9 April the Zifa chief executive officer Yvonne Manwa asked Southern Region boss Loydd Munhanga asked for clarification on the case wanting to know more about the rationale arrived at excluding the two teams from the 2025 roaster of teams and relevant constitution sections used to bar the two teams.
On the other end Zimbabwe Saints took their matter to Hara and Partners and were praying for the games to be suspended until there was a resolution.
In their letter to Zifa, Saints we have had problems paying their affiliation fees over the past three years under the stewardship of Southern Region boss, Munhanga felt their expulsion was unconstitutional and unprocedural.
In a letter drafted by T Hara and Partners queried why Chikwata who were part of the 2024 programme had been left out of the 2025 fixtures.
Saints argued that they had not received official communication about the goings-on in the league. Saints said now that the 25 March annual general meeting of the region resolved on the budget, they are ready to pay whatever is wanted.
Saints also requested stamped statutes of the region, 2023,2024 and 2025 rules and regulations of the league, annual general meeting minutes, letter of demand of owed funds and one pronouncing their expulsion.
They also asked how Imbizo and Bulawayo Wanderers had joined in to be part of the Zifa Southern Region Division One.
Saints and Golden Lions sacking was resolved by the clubs sitting as the Assembly who went on to admit Imbizo and Bulawayo Warriors to be part of the league taking the tally to 18.
Had Lions and Saints stayed, there could have been 20 teams which Mbwanda said is within the threshold in the constitution.
“As a management committee, the rules allow us to admit teams and have the Assembly ratifying that position. In this case, the clubs agreed that the two teams be admitted.
“We will stick to statutes on the case of the two teams. How can they play now when they failed to register their players after failing to pay affiliation fees or part of so that they show commitment?” Mbwanda asked.
The Division One League entered its second round on Saturday with matches all over the region.
Both team without registered players following the closure of the Zifa/Fifa transfer window on 31 March cannot partake in the programme.
Bongani Ndlovu