admin
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
BIKITA Minerals have been promoted into the Castle Lager Premiership via a boardroom decision that awarded them maximum points from their final match of the ZIFA Eastern Region Division One season against Grayham.
Eastern Region Soccer League vice chairman Simba Wisdom confirmed the latest development.
“We deliberated on the matter between Bikita Minerals and Grayham on Saturday here in Mutare. As the outcome of the deliberations, we discovered that, indeed, Grayham used an ineligible player. The player in question is Calvin Tinashe Chiwere who was using Munyaradzi Machipisa’s license. He is a 32-year old player who was using a 22-year old player’s license. There was overwhelming evidence.
“Therefore, according to Rule 13.1 Paragraph B, if a player uses an ineligible player’s licence and the issue is raised during inspection the team using the ineligible player gets three points docked from them, a fine is imposed while the opponents get maximum points. This is the reason we gave Bikita Minerals three points. Technically, Bikita Minerals now have 60 points and Tenax have 59. Bikita Minerals are the 2023 ZIFA Eastern Region Division One champions.
“We have also suspended Chiwere for six months. In the same hearing, Bikita Minerals was fine US$2 000 for assaulting referees. Like I said earlier on, Grayham have three points docked. The match is given to Bikita Minerals on a three nil scoreline. Grayham was also given a US$1 000 fine,” said Wisdom.
The development means the lithium miners have joined three other clubs from the country’s second-tier leagues to complete the list of promoted teams for the 2024 Castle Lager Premiership season.
Online Reporter