admin
Fungai Muderere
PLAYERS at Southern Region Division One championship contenders Bulawayo City last week engaged in a mini-industrial action amid revelations that they have gone for two months without receiving their monthly salaries.
Well-placed sources within the club told B-Metro Sport that three days before their 3-1 league triumph over CIWU at Luveve Stadium, Amakhosi players refused to train in a move that was meant to push for the payment of their monthly dues.
Interestingly, the win saw Bulawayo City return to the top of the league table, a point ahead of second-placed Talen Vision, who were held to a goalless draw by ZPC Hwange the next day.
“Last Tuesday, our players refused to train as they kept on asking for their dues. Three days later, they had to fulfil our game against CIWU after the powers-that-be at the club had indicated that they were going to get their July and August salaries in no time. Up to now nothing has reflected in their bank accounts and some executive members have openly told the players there is no money at the club,” said a source.
Another source added despite the fact that City players were each owed $240 as winning bonuses for their recent games against CIWU and Makomo, some of the club’s players were owed signing on fees for 2018 and winning bonuses for the 2017 season when they were still playing in the Premier Soccer League.
City’s public relations officer Thandiwe Moyo said: “There is no day that our players refused to train. If you do happen to see them not training our coaches would have given them time off. However, with regards to salary payments, in every given organisation there are processes that need to be followed and we are a team that is sponsored by Bulawayo City Council and as such there are processes that are being followed. We owe them (players) and it’s not like they are not going to get their dues.”
Last year, just before they got relegated from the country’s elite football league, we reported that Bulawayo City were operating on a $1 million annual budget, a lump sum that went to waste after a three-year dance in the PSL where they managed to post a total of 29 wins from 95 games (31% success rate.)
Meanwhile, Bulawayo City midfielder Innocent Kutsanzira is set to go under the knife after breaking his leg during his club’s match against CIWU last Friday.
“He will bounce back into action after a lengthy period. He was able to go see a specialist and it seems he will go under the knife. However, we will advise on the other processes in due course,” said Moyo.
CIWU midfielder Tyson Mazithulela was red-carded for a crude open foot tackle which left Kutsanzira with a broken leg and hospitalised.
With no stretcher available at the venue, a table top was reportedly used to ferry Kutsanzira into an open City of Bulawayo Nissan pick-up truck, as there was no ambulance on site, which has become a norm in Division One football.
“It’s rare to find an ambulance at Division One matches and the open truck that we used to ferry Kutsanzira was the best vehicle that was around at that time,” said Moyo.
Southern Region Division One Fixtures
Friday
Talen Vision v Mosi Rovers (Luveve12 noon), Bosso 90 v Casymn (Luveve 3pm)
Saturday
CIWU VS Makomo (Crescent), Toronto v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Brad Barracks 12pm), Arenel Movers v ZPC Hwange (Gifford), Mailine v Ajax Hotspurs (Plumtree),
Sunday
Binga Pirates v Moto Moto (Binga).
Online Reporter