adminGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
PREMIERSHIP newboys Mutare City are set to pay dearly for their negligence as they are certain to lose three points for the use of an ineligible player.
The team fielded striker — Kudakwashe Gurure — in the weekend’s match against FC Platinum at Mandava. The match ended 1-1.
Former Mutoko Traders forward Gurure was one of the players that had been suspended by the Premier Soccer League for accumulating three yellow cards.
The other players who sat out last weekend’s games to serve their one-match suspension are Border Strikers’ Kudzanai Kwashi, CAPS United’s Warriors right back Hardlife Zvirekwi and Bulawayo City Xolisani Moyo.
But Gurure, who was cautioned in matches against Border Strikers, Chapungu and Tsholotsho, found his way into the starting team for the Mutare side.
The carelessness by his club’s officials, will now cost the team, which has been scrounging for points as they bid for survival.
Ironically, the hammer blow is set to come at a time when coach Taku Shariwa’s men had appeared to have found their rhythm and are unbeaten in the four matches they have played in this second half of the season.
In their previous match, they also had another draw when they were held 3-3 at home by Tsholotsho.
They had also beaten Highlanders 2-1 at Barbourfields.
Prior to that match, they had managed a goalless draw against Chapungu.
Mutare City have 17 points from 19 matches and are third from bottom above basement side Border Strikers and Tsholotsho.
According to the Premier Soccer League’s Rules and Regulations Standing Order 36.1.4 “the use of an unregistered/ineligible player in a league match, three points will be deducted and thrown away and a fine as set by the League from time to time.”
The match irregularity came to the fore after FC Platinum lodged a complaint with the PSL after the match.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said yesterday they have since written to Mutare City asking them to furnish the top-flight body with their side of the story.
“We have written to Mutare City to give us their side of the story so we are waiting for their response and expecting it by end of day.
“But it is very simple, the clubs know that we communicate through the email and copy all the clubs as well.
“This helps as your opposition can also alert you before the match starts.
“We insist clubs must check their emails every day because that is the communication at the top level, but we are waiting for them to give their side of the story first,” said Ndebele.
A similar incident happened in the league in 2003 when Dynamos were docked three points after they fielded an ineligible player — Edmore Mufema — in one of their matches.
DeMbare were in the league race together with Highlanders and Amazulu, who eventually won the championship while Bosso finished as runners up.
The Harare giants paid dearly for using Mufema in the match against Lancashire Steel when Mufema still had a contractual dispute with his former club Motor Action and technically was still a Mighty Bulls player.
The Glamour Boys, who were in the league race, went on to lose the title while Mufema was banned from football for one year.
Meanwhile, six players have been suspended for this weekend’s round of matches.
CAPS United will travel to Bulawayo City without bustling striker Dominic Chungwa while their opponents will also feel a double pinch when they play without the duo of Sipho Ndlovu and influential midfielder Emmanuel Mandiranga.
Bulawayo City’s Ndlovu was on target when his side held Dynamos 1-1 at Rufaro last Sunday.
Highlanders will also be missing two players when they travel to Nyamhunga to face ZPC Kariba as midfielder Simon Munawa and defender Honest Moyo are serving one-match suspensions.
ZPC Kariba will also miss veteran defender Ephraim Mwinga.
David “Yogi” Mandigora’s Triangle will host pacesetters FC Platinum without exciting winger Malvin Gaki.
Online Reporter