Hardbody cleared to join PSL, but . . .

Tripple B have promised fire and brimstone in their fight to have the decision by the Zifa Appeals Committee, to give Hardbody the benefit of doubt, set aside.
Hardbody had to suspend their celebrations for winning the championship from the Zifa Central Region Division One after being docked 42 points for allegedly using an improperly registered player Tatenda Simon Chingarah.

Hardbody finished top of the log standings but had maximum points from 14 matches forfeited by the Zifa Central Region for the alleged offence.
In another controversy last season the club also had their director Takesure Sibanda being slapped with a fine of US$800 after being found guilty of attempted match-fixing.
But the Zifa Appeals Committee, led by chairperson Tererai Gunje, sitting with Tim Sangwarwe and P. Mabhundu, restored the 42 points in the judgment released on Monday this week.
In their relief, the trio said: “The appeal be and is hereby allowed to stand.

“The penalty of the committee a quo ordering the forfeiture of forty two (42) points from the Appellant be and is hereby set aside.
“There be no order as to costs.”
Tripple B are cited as the Respondents while Hardbody are the Appellant in the matter.

However, it seems Hardbody’s joy could be short-lived as Tripple B, who feel hard-done by the decision from the Appeals Committee, have vowed to “take the matter further.”
Tripple B president, Nqobani Sithole, yesterday said his club will not rest until they get justice delivered.
“One thing very clear is that we are very skeptical of the judgment.

“The judgment is just scandalous to say the least and we have no kind words for the Appeals Committee.
“For us to have been hoping to get a judgment favourable to us was just being brave but this whole issue of the Appeals Committee is something else.
“How is it that one guy in the committee is a partner with (Ralph) Maganga, who is the Zifa lawyer?

“We are not going to take this lying down and just wait when make our next move to take the matter further up,” said Sithole.
During the hearings, Tripple B cited that the Appeals Committee’s composition had been influenced by Maganga, although this objection was later withdrawn.
In upholding Hardbody’s appeal, the committee found that Chingarah had played for Big Valley Masters in 2010 in the Central Region before he was cleared to play for any “prospective team of his choice”.

“The prospective team of his choice became Hardbody Football Club”
Armed with the clearance, Hardbody registered the player, although there was serious misrepresentation as there was no mention that the Chingarah played for Sport Klub Windhoek until 2009 when he got injured and returned to Zimbabwe.

The Appeals Committee found that Chingarah played for Big Valley Masters in 2010, although he had not been issued with a reverse international clearance from the Namibian Football Association.
During his time at Big Valley Masters, Chingarah fraudulently used a licence belonging to Gift Shangwa.
Yesterday, Hardbody’s public relations officer, Pithias Shoko said the team’s executive, the directors and the technical team will meet to map the way forward.

“We had been waiting patiently for this judgment since last year and we are glad that it has came out in our favour.
“All along there has been uncertainty on whether we could be playing in Division One or in the Premiership but that has now been cleared.

“The directors and the executive now have to meet and find the way forward.
“As of now I think the coach should be starting his preparations next week and we are now happy that Premier League action is back in Gweru,” said Shoko.

Shoko said some of their players were reluctant to renew contracts with the club.
“They were waiting for the outcome as they wanted Premiership contracts and not Division One contracts.

“The coach was had plan A for the Premiership and Plan B for Division One, so I think he will then inform the executive about his targeted players.
“I believe the bulk of the players will be retained,” said Shoko.

Hardbody who are known as “Watosvorwa” to their fans, started off as a social soccer club in 2004 before acquiring a Division Two franchise in 2009.
In 2010, they were playing in Division One football but finished third in the league as Mimosa, now FC Platinum, won promotion from the Central Region.

Currently the side has former Shu-Shine player Tavaka Gumbo as coach while former Chapungu goalkeeper Brighton Muchambo is the assistant and Malvern Nyakabangwe is their most seasoned player.