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CITY Knights coach Stanley Gumbo has cried foul over the Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA)’s decision to hand Highlanders a walkover result over a registration mix-up.
Bosso were awarded the men’s tie on a 20-0 score.
Gumbo said they were disappointed when informed that their fixture would be awarded to Highlanders on a disputed technicality. “We were told there was a technical hiccup said to be linked to our registration. We were told we had not registered for the season and yet we paid our registration fees. From what I know, a team can’t be on a league fixture before they have paid their registration fees,” said Gumbo.
“There has to be a review of the policy. We have played some fixtures already and the question is why now? Is there a reason we were not given the chance to play our game,” he questioned.
He said Knights had paid everything, including the referees fees of $8 per match, and they were shocked to be prevented from playing over the alleged non-payment of the $40 registration fees.
Gumbo received backing from Lupane State University coach Sinda Mono, who said the decision to award the Knights’ tie to Highlanders was unjustified.
“There is a lot of politics at play here and it’s difficult to justify what really led to this decision targeting Knights. When it was the Milton development issue, there was a quick decision which was sent to the council stating reasons that led to their exclusion, but no explanation is forthcoming in the Knights’ saga,” said Mono.
BBA secretary-general Howard Phangwana pleaded ignorance over the Knights’ saga but said a team can only be walked over if it arrives late for a fixture or hasn’t paid the referee’s fees.
Results: Men: City Knights 0-20 Highlanders, Southern Mavericks 115-30 Lupane, Oilers 54-70 Giants
Women: Angels 24-83 Lakers Snrs, Lakers Jnrs 25-38 Nust, Lupane 4-89 Southern Mavericks
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