STUDENTS ACCEPT SANCTIONS

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

HERENTALS have accepted the punishment which was handed down by the PSL Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday.

The Students were fined US$5,000 and ordered to play their next three home games behind closed doors.

They were found guilty of breaching the league’s rules and regulations when they played CAPS United at Rufaro last month.

This followed assault cases involving two of their bouncers – Paradzai Afa and Tairos Ngoma – during that match.

Afa and Ngoma have been banned for the next three seasons.

While there was room for appeal, Herentals have accepted the judgment.

In a statement, The Students said: “Herentals College Football Club has taken full responsibility and accepts the judgment handed to them by the Premier Soccer League Disciplinary Committee.

“The club respects the rules and regulations that govern everyone under PSL’s jurisdiction.

“Two of our security personnel – Paradzai Afa and Tairos Ngoma – have been banished from performing any club duties for the next three years while the team will play its next three home games this season behind closed doors.

“While there is room for appeal given the circumstances, Herentals will not take that route for the good of football.”

Club secretary-general, Fainos Madhumbu, said:

“When we look at the case and the circumstances around it, we see a possibility to have it overturned through appeal.

“But, there are times when you just need to let football be the winner. This is one of those instances.

“We take full responsibility and accept the judgment as it is.

“We can’t drag the game just because we want to prove a point.

“We respect the outcome and let the game win. We are a team that has an education background and we want our kids to always follow the dictates of professionalism even where they see they could raise their hands to say no.

“For us, a no and a yes are both answers as long as they serve the game well.”

Herentals will host relegation-threatened Yadah at Rufaro tomorrow and no fans will attend the game.

They will head to Mandava where their fans can attend when they face top-five rivals FC Platinum in Zvishavane before concluding the season before yet another empty stadium against ZPC Kariba.

The ban on fans will spill over to their first home games behind closed in 2026.