PSL clubs want Banda back

Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter

PREMIER Soccer League clubs demanded to be paid their Covid-19 relief funds in hard currency and voiced concerns over endless boardroom fights at ZIFA during a lengthy meeting between the affiliate and their mother body in Harare yesterday.

ZIFA last week announced they would pay the Covid-19 bailouts in local currency despite receiving US$1,5 million from FIFA.

Tensions had built up over ZIFA’s plan in the run-up to yesterday’s rare meeting between the clubs’ board of governors and the ZIFA board.

The association had initially budgeted $110,5 million for the 18 PSL clubs, but might now be forced to change that decision following pressure from the top-flight clubs.

The teams were clear they would only welcome the relief funds if they were distributed in the same currency there was disbursed by FIFA, as this would help insulate them against inflation.

ZIFA president Felton Kamambo told the media that recommendations made by the PSL clubs would be considered.

“We have always received funds from FIFA in USD, but the normal way we have been doing is to change that using the prevailing rate, but now that our affiliate has made a recommendation, we have to look into it.

“The Covid-19 money is not yet in our account, so we have room to make a decision on how we are going to pay. We just want the board to sit down and come up with a decision,” Kamambo said.

Although the meeting was largely amicable, there were serious concerns by PSL clubs over endless boardroom wars at ZIFA and the failure by the association to consult them.

PSL clubs felt the continued persecution of suspended vice president Gift Banda was unwarranted and dented ZIFA’s image.

They want the board members and Banda to smoke a peace pipe. Banda has been on suspension since January 2019, after he was accused of usurping the board’s powers by allegedly unilaterally changing the Warriors’ technical team. He was recently exonerated by the ZIFA Disciplinary Committee, but the board immediately filed an appeal with their Appeals Committee.

Kamambo said they welcomed the suggestion for peace and coherence in the board.

“We are doing this (meetings) to all our affiliates. We invited them (PSL clubs) to discuss the state of football in Zimbabwe, resumption of the league; among them is the Covid-19 funds issue which we discussed at length.

“I am sure last time I said these were the highlights, but in terms of the full distribution, we are going to publish it tomorrow (today),” said Kamambo.

Banda, who has remained suspended, has vowed to fight to the end, including taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, in order to clear his name.

“The issue of VP Banda was vigorously debated and members felt that his continued suspension wasn’t good for football. Members said Banda should get a pardon and be reinstated,” said one club representative.

“The other concern was that some players’ mid-term contracts are expiring, but ZIFA hasn’t given guidelines on how 2020 contracts should be treated in light of the fact that the season didn’t take off as expected.”

It also emerged that a decision on when the 2020 season would kick-off could only be done after August, when the PSL Medical Committee and the ZIFA Competitions Committee present their findings.

The medical committee is doing a scientific research on how football can return safely. Both ZIFA and PSL are pushing for a September start.

“The doctors and the competitions committee are looking at the resumption of our football and we have earmarked September for our resumption, but the committee of doctors and competitions committee will report back to us on the 8th of August.

“Then we will make a decision as the board,” said Kamambo.

“They are doing a scientific research on how safe our football can return. So we are yet to submit our plan to the SRC (Sports and Recreation Commission) and Government. Those recommendations from the medical and competitions committee will support our document to the SRC and Government.”

ZIFA board member for development, Brighton Malandule said although they would stand guided by Government and the health authorities, they were eager to have the game back as hundreds of men and women survive on football.

“Football is an industry and a lot of men and women survive on football. Just as much as the informal sector is crying out to be allowed to reopen, football is also an industry that wants to be opened, but we are also aware of the need to preserve people’s health.

“We want to be guided by the medical professionals,” he said.