Pay up or ship out: Zifa suspends indebted clubs

All clubs that owe Zifa Southern Region Division One league have been suspended from the league with immediate effect until they pay their dues.

A total of eight clubs owe the league affiliation and match fees.

And the league bosses are taking the bull by its horns.

The executive recently made a resolution to suspend all the defaulting clubs until either their dues are paid or payment plans with the league are set in place. Failure to do so will result in a defaulting club losing 3 points on a 3-0 score line each time it plays a league match.

In the event that two teams that both owe the association meet in a league fixture, the result is rendered null and void as points for that particular match are forfeited.

a�?We have temporality suspended eight clubs that owe the league affiliation and match fees. Two of the clubs have not paid referees match fees for about 10 games. If referees are not paid by the end of the season, the liability will lie on the league to settle the debts,a�? said league board member finance Brighton Malandule.

It costs $230 to pay the referee, two assistants and fourth official for a single division one match, meaning referees are owned in excess of $4000.

Three clubs owned by the Zimbabwe Republic Police a�� ZRP Hwange, Black Boots and ZRP Bulawayo Province are listed as some of the debtors.

Ntabazinduna, bankrolled by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Hwange Under-20, Victoria Falls Tigers and Technosphere also make the list of the suspended clubs.

Bosso90, a developmental side owned by Highlanders Football Club, completes the list of clubs in the leaguea��s black book.

a�?We have been negotiating with the concerned clubs to come forward with payment plans, ita��s almost the end of the season so we were left with no choice but to take drastic measures,a�? he said.

Out of the eight fixtures that were penciled to be played this weekend six involve defaulting clubs and have subsequently been cancelled.

On Saturday, Casmyn play Talen Vision in the only match of the day in Turk Mine while log leaders Bantu Rovers meet Indlovu Iyanyathela at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.

Fixtures:

Saturday

CasmynA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�Talen VisionA�A� A�A�A� A�Turk MineA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�3PM

ZRP Byo ProvinceA�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�Bulawayo ChiefsA�A� A�cancelledA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelled

Bantu RoversA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�Indlovu IyanyathelaA�A� A�LuveveA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�3PM

ZPC HwangeA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�NtabazindunaA�A� A�A�A� A�cancelledA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelled

ZRP HwangeA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�Hwange Ua��20A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelledA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelled

MakomoA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�Vic Falls TigersA�A� A�A�A� A�cancelledA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelled

Sunday

Black BootsA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�TechnosphereA�A� A�A�A� A�cancelledA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelled

AmagagasiA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�vsA�A� A�Bosso 90A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelledA�A� A�A�A� A�A�A� A�cancelled