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Chando Kupisa yesterday released their players just before their scheduled departure for Zvishavane, throwing their travelling plans for this afternoon’s tie in doubt. The trio of Wellington Kamudyariwa, Moses Muchenje and Farai Madora, were part of the Zimbabwe Futsal team that left for Johannesburg yesterday.
Zimbabwe were supposed to host the Futsal reverse fixture at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex after South Africa had hosted and won the first leg 4-2.
But Caf condemned the Chitungwiza venue and South Africa agreed to host the reverse fixture again.
There is more controversy to the reverse fixture after Caf availed air tickets for their opponents to fly for this leg while the match has also torched a potential storm for the local Premiership. Gunners operations director, Wellington Mupandare, yesterday said they were not in a position to fulfil the game today.
“We have three players who have gone to the Futsal qualifiers under the auspices of Zifa. It’s a national team and the rules state that a team can opt not to play a fixture if they provide three or more players to a national team.
“Zifa selected our players for this national duty and we have communicated our precarious position to PSL.
“However, PSL are adamant that the league game should go ahead and insist that our players risk being deregistered if they play five-a-side football.
“But I think that is for Zifa to spell out since they are the ones who called up our players,” said Mupandare.
Mupandare said Gunners suffered a defeat to Chicken Inn two weeks ago after they went to Bulawayo without the trio.
However, in any normal league around the world, Futsal players do not play conventional soccer and could only do so on a social level.
Meanwhile, Zifa have defended their stance to receive support from the South African Football Association to fly the Futsal team to South Africa.
In a move that some quarters feel will compromise their results, Zifa received air tickets to fly the Futsal team to South Africa yesterday.
Zifa communications manager Nicky Dhlamini, however, said there was nothing sinister in them getting a helping hand from Safa.
“Our venue was condemned after the game with Sudan and we had opted to play a one-off leg in South Africa.
“However, Safa were not willing and we then agreed to host them at their facilities.
“But because Zifa is facing financial challenges, Safa only bought us air tickets but we are taking care of all the other expenses just like we would do if we were hosting the South Africans at home,” said Dhlamini.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo