Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Things are falling apart and the centre, well and truly, cannot hold at Kwekwe United.
What began as murmurs of discontent exploded into full-blown crisis yesterday when the club failed to show up for their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixture against Herentals at Bata Stadium, a symbolic and literal no-show that now threatens the club’s very future.
The match, scheduled for 3pm, had everything but the home team: match officials were there. Herentals were ready and fully kitted. Even the Premier Soccer League’s officials and the match commissioner was present. But there was no Kwekwe United.
Instead, only head coach Saul Chaminuka and his assistant Clemence Zuze arrived at the stadium, standing helplessly on the touchline as the referee waited out the 30-minute grace period before signalling a walkover.
For Herentals, the result will go down as a 3-0 victory on paper. But no one, not the players, coaches, or fans came away from this debacle feeling like winners.
Behind the scenes, the collapse had been long in the making.
Already on Sunday, The Sunday Mail had reported that Kwekwe United were on the brink of a major fall-out with players, owing to unpaid salaries, outstanding bonuses, and a club structure under severe financial duress. The players had reportedly rejected proposed accommodation for their pre-match camp, citing poor conditions. They also demanded full payment of their March salaries, along with a long-overdue winning bonus for their 1-0 triumph over Bikita Minerals — their only win so far this season.
When these demands weren’t met, the players refused to travel.
Kwekwe United chairperson Francis Tavagadza confirmed the club scrambled to address some of the players’ demands late into Sunday.
“We spent the better part of yesterday (Sunday) trying to source funds to pay the players. We managed to clear the arrears for the month of February, as well as bonuses for the draws against Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum,” said Tavagadza.
But the players stood firm.
“The players then dug in, demanding full payment of their March salaries as well as the winning bonus for the win against Bikita Minerals,” he explained. “As a result, we were in no position to mobilise such resources in one day. Subsequently, they refused to travel.”
While anger initially boiled over on social media with criticism directed at the league for supposedly “calling off” the match, the Premier Soccer League quickly moved to correct the record. In a strongly-worded statement, the PSL absolved itself of blame, confirming the match had not been called off by the league.
“The Premier Soccer League would like to advise that the Castle Lager PSL Matchday 6 fixture between Kwekwe United and Herentals College scheduled for Monday 15 April 2024 at Bata Stadium was not called off,” the PSL said.
“Match officials and Herentals College were present at the stadium. However, Kwekwe United failed to show up. The matter will be referred to the PSL Disciplinary Committee for determination.”
Far from pulling the plug, PSL officials had reportedly engaged both Kwekwe United and the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) in a last-ditch effort to have the fixture fulfilled. Sources say while the league was eager for the game to go ahead, negotiations hit a wall with FUZ, which stood firmly in solidarity with the players’ demands.
“The league wanted this match played — badly,” said a source close to the discussions. “They exhausted every channel. But the players’ position was hardened by FUZ’s backing. Once that happened, there was no turning back.”
Coach Saul Chaminuka was left watching from the side-lines as the game that never was ticked past its kickoff time.
“We prepared all week, but when it mattered most, there was no team to coach,” he said. “This is heartbreaking. The players want to play, but there’s a serious disconnect with those responsible for their welfare.”
Across the pitch, Herentals coach Paul Benza sympathised with his opponents.
“We came here to play football,” he said. “We feel for Kwekwe United, because what happened today affects the integrity of the league and the morale of the players and fans. No one wins in a situation like this.”
The fallout now looms large. Kwekwe United will likely face a fine or sanctions from the PSL’s disciplinary processes. But the wider issue runs deeper — can the club even survive?
Tavagadza insists the executive is not throwing in the towel just yet.
