Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS have decided against appealing the hefty penalty they received from the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday.
The Students were fined US$5 000 and ordered to play their next three home games behind closed doors after they were found guilty of breaching the league’s rules and regulations when they played CAPS United at Rufaro last month.
This followed assault cases involving two of their marshals Paradzai Afa and Tairos Ngoma during that match.
The PSL disciplinary committee also came down heavily on Afa and Ngoma with the pair banned from handling duties related to the elite league’s games for the next three seasons.
While there was room for appeal especially given that no team, whether first time or repeat offenders, had been slapped with such harsh fines and penalties of that nature, Herentals have chosen humility and yesterday, they accepted the judgement handed to them in its letter.
The Students issued a statement in which they took full responsibility for their officials’ actions.
“Herentals College Football Club has taken full responsibility and accepts the judgement handed to them by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee.
“The club respects the rules and regulations that govern everyone under PSL’s jurisdiction.
“Two of our security personnel, Paradzai Afa and Tairos Ngoma have been banished from performing any club duties for the next three years, while the team will play its next three home games this season behind closed doors.
“While there is room for appeal given the circumstances, Herentals will not take that route for the good of football,” read part of the statement.
Club secretary general Fainos Madhumbu added that Herentals were confident they would have won a reprieve on appeal.
“When we look at the case and the circumstances around it, we see a possibility to have it overturned through appeal.
“But there are times when you just need to let football be the winner. This is one of those instances.
“We take full responsibility and accept the judgement as it is.
“We can’t drag the game just because we want to prove a point.
“We respect the outcome and let the game win. We are a team that has an education background and we want our kids to always follow the dictates of professionalism even where they see they could raise their hands to say no.
“For us, a no and a yes are both answers as long as they serve the game well.”
Herentals will host relegation-threatened Yadah Stars at Rufaro tomorrow but their fans will not be allowed in as the penalty takes immediate effect. They will head to Mandava where their fans can attend when they face top-five rivals FC Platinum in Zvishavane before concluding the season before yet another empty Rufaro stadium against ZPC Kariba.
The ban on fans will spill over to their first home game of the 2026 season which be played behind closed doors.
Away from the off-field madness, Herentals have been one of the most competitive teams in the league and one of the capital city’s best performers, with Tino Benza and Ralph Kawondera, especially outstanding.
They are pushing to finish among the Premiership’s top five for the second season running.
“We are pushing to finish strongly. We have had a good season,’’ Tino Benza said.
“It could have been a magnificent term but we slackened a bit in the last few games.
“We hope to win all the remaining games starting with Yadah this Saturday.
“We are eager to finish strongly. We know Yadah is our bogey side but we are ready for them.”
