adminSikhumbuzo Moyo
A Zifa councillor in Matabeleland North has been caught in a fines storm that has resulted in 10 clubs in Lupane district pulling out of the Zifa Matabeleand North league.The clubs now play social soccer.
A Division 2B league was introduced in 2012 in the province by the Dennis Chuma-led executive in a bid to spread the game across the province but appears to have collapsed after only two years..
In separate interviews, club administrators claimed that they were being made to pay fines ranging from $20 to $50 for such offences as a player receiving a red card or coming late for a match. All these fines, clubs claimed, were not receipted but were given to Chuma, the provincial football chairman.
Chuma denies the charge and said all the fines were receipted.
“That guy (Chuma) would demand the money immediately. There was no time to argue. If your player gets red-carded, you know that some money has to be paid but what worried us is that we were never given any receipts,” said a club official who requested anonymity but said he was prepared to face Chuma at a tribunal.
“We still have ambitions of coming back into organised football but with stories we are reading about victimisation in football, we would rather protect our boys and clubs for now,” said the official.
An official with GMB said: “At one time, a Sports and Recreation official Leornard Mwale approached Chuma over the issue and we understand the two ended up not on talking terms,” said the official
Mwale confirmed this.
“I did approach the gentleman just to find out why there was no transparency in the way he was running his things, clubs being fined with no receipts issued. He did not give me any answer but ended up giving me a cold shoulder as he thought probably I was enlightening clubs,” said Mwale, an office administrator with SRC Matabeleland North.
Chuma said clubs’ lack of money caused the demise of the league.
“Those guys had no financial resources. Most of them even failed to pay affiliation fees, only managing a deposit of $200 out of the $425 required,” said Chuma.
He did not dispute the $20 and $50 fines but said receipts were issued.
“It’s not true that there were no receipts. I issued them with receipts,” said Chuma.
However, one club official remained adamant.
“Maybe he wrote the receipts but forgot to give us our copies,” he said.
Online Reporter