Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Premier Soccer League says Highlanders were sacked from the Chibuku Super Cup by social media not by the competition the Premier Soccer League has said.
Many soccer followers have queried why Highlanders are taking part in this year’s tournament despite being blamed for their abandoned tournament match against Simba Bhora at Shamva last year.
Rules state that the team that causes the abandonment of the game is automatically excluded the following year.
However, in an interview with Zimpapers Sports Hub on Thursday afternoon after the draw, acting Premier League chief executive officer, Rodwell Thabe said Highlanders was never expelled from the event.
He said while the rules and regulations stated that a team has to miss out the following year, this did not apply to Highlanders because of changed circumstances.
“The matter was taken to a disciplinary committee which in its learned opinion opined that there were factors that led to the abandonment. There is nowhere in the judgment where the team’s suspension in this year’s competition is enunciated.
“We all read it on social media and not from the disciplinary committee, which sat as a court to preside over the matter. So they are in,” said Thabe.
Highlanders were drawn against Herentals in the round of 16 teams.
The draw was conducted in Harare on Thursday, and for the first time in its history Dynamos has suffered the indignity of having to go through a qualifier to enter a tournament.
The bottom four teams as of Round 17 of the fixtures were drawn to play to determine two teams that join the other 16 in the first round.
Dynamos will clash with Yadah with the winner to face Simba Bhora.
The former Harare giants are the defending champions. Triangle and Kwekwe United’s winner will face Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Draw
Simba Bhora v Yadah/Dynamos, MWOS v Caps United, Scottland v GreenFuel, FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds, Ngezi Platinum Stars v Triangle/Kwekwe United, ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn, Herentals v Highlanders
derick.khumalo