adminSenior Sports Reporter
MASVINGO United have been provisionally suspended for two years from taking part in the Eastern Region Division One league for taking football matter to court, Post Sport has learnt. Masvingo United successfully sought a court interdict to stop the coronation of Mutare City Rovers as the 2015 Eastern Region Division One champions early this year, although their heads of arguments were not convincing, judging by the documents that were made available to this newspaper when the team went to court.
And in a bid to set the right precedent on football regulations, Zifa Eastern Region suspended Masvingo United pending congress decision.
Zifa Eastern Region secretary, Simba ‘Ba Amanda’ Wisdom, confirmed Masvingo United’s suspension that is set to come into effect when the league commences a week after the Premiership season kicks off.
He said he was not yet aware of the dates for the congress.
“We have decided as a regional administration body to provisionally suspend Masvingo United from taking part in the Eastern Region Division One League for taking football matters to court. “They have been provisionally suspended pending congress and the suspension is for two years.
“We are not yet aware of the dates for the congress. “However, Masvingo United, have an option of paying $500 that the regional administrational body incurred in legal costs that came as a result of them taking football matters to court.
“As part of their punishment, if they are eventually accepted back, they will have to guard against committing a similar offence in the next five years. We also expect them to make a public apology as part of the conditions to have them back,” said Wisdom.
Zifa Eastern Region was set to hand over the league winner’s trophy to Mutare City Rovers at an end of year champions’ coronation ceremony held in Mutare, but the event could not go ahead.
The regional football administration body was barred from awarding Mutare City Rovers the champion’s trophy as Masvingo United successfully sought a court interdict to stop proceedings.
Yuna Yuna, as Masvingo are adoringly referred to by their fans, argued that striker, Dylan Chivandire was not registered as a Mutare City player and Mutare City Rovers used Tafadzwa Mukahlera when the player belonged to them.
However, it then emerged that by taking football matters to court, Masvingo United risk being banned from football hence their suspension this week.
Online Reporter