News / Local
Bulawayo to play tough on Mugabe
05 Feb 2014 at 20:30hrs | Views
BULAWAYO City Council has resolved to play tough with President Robert Mugabe's Bob 90 tournament organisers as it has demanded cash upfront for the hire of Barboaurfileds stadium.
Last year, Zanu-PF youth members looted all gate-takings claiming that council was not entitled to a cent. The matter was reported to the police but nothing was recovered.
To gauged against any financial lose, the MDC-T led council has said the organisers should pay of $2 211.45 plus refundable deposit in the hire of stadia.
Highlanders are set to clash with Harare City of February 16 during a semi-final match.
Below is an extract from council minutes debated today,
"The Director of Housing and Community Services reported (22nd January, 2014) that the Bob Tournament had in the recent past become a regular feature in the annual soccer calendar. This tournament was held annually in February, that was, the birthday anniversary of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
"A similar tournament was in the offing this year and was dubbed Bob 90. According to the media which had been awash with this tournament, the semi final was pencilled for Barbourfields Stadium on the 16th February 2014. This was going to pit Highlanders against Harare City, and the victor was going to meet Dynamos who were the cup holders, in the final in Harare.
"Historically the booking of Barbourfields Stadium for this tournament had been mired in controversy.
"It would be remembered that only last year the same tournament was held and Barbourfields hosted the first leg of the final. Regrettably, the 20% cash takings of $9 593,79 due to Council were taken away from Council staff by the very tournament organizers. They argued that Council was not entitled to any gate takings. This they said because they had made submissions to Council requesting for free use of the stadium, and Council responded late in the process turning down their request. To date, that money had not been recovered despite engaging the Police.
"On that score, it would be prudent for Council to remind the tournament organizers and the conveners that was the Premier Soccer League of last year's incident.
"It was also proposed that Council demand that the Premier Soccer League, as the custodians of soccer matches in the country, be the guarantors of the match, the proceeds from the match as well as Council's share. However for such highly emotive and political matches it would be prudent for Council to request the Premier Soccer League to pay upfront the normal hire charge of US$2 211.45 per day for soccer matches.
"Secondly there would be need for the organizers to pay a deposit of $960 against damages that might result from the match. Such deposits would be refunded if no damages were encountered after the match. In the previous year's match, Council staff had encountered difficulties in demanding Council's share of the proceeds in the form of 20% that 166 was taken after cash counting at the end of the match. Council's staff had to be assisted by the Senior Security Officer, but still the money had not been given to Council to date.
"The Premier Soccer League had said they too had no powers since the money was forcibly taken in front of the police.
"The Director of Housing and Community Services therefore suggested that the organizers of the tournament (Premier Soccer league) pay upfront the stadia hire charge of $2 211.45, plus a refundable deposit of $960.
"The matter was considered and Councillors deplored the manner in which this tournament had been handled during a similar event in 2013 as detailed in the report. The apparent disregard of Councils rules and regulations and display of arrogance on the part of the organizers was uncalled for. The fact that follow-ups through police involvement had up to now yielded no positive results was also of concern here .
"In view of this, it was agreed that an up front payment plus refundable deposit be provided by the applicants.
"On that note it was -
"RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND:
"That the Premier Soccer League be requested to pay up front the normal hire charge of $2 211.45 plus refundable deposit in the hire of stadia for the above mentioned soccer tournament."
Last year, Zanu-PF youth members looted all gate-takings claiming that council was not entitled to a cent. The matter was reported to the police but nothing was recovered.
To gauged against any financial lose, the MDC-T led council has said the organisers should pay of $2 211.45 plus refundable deposit in the hire of stadia.
Highlanders are set to clash with Harare City of February 16 during a semi-final match.
Below is an extract from council minutes debated today,
"The Director of Housing and Community Services reported (22nd January, 2014) that the Bob Tournament had in the recent past become a regular feature in the annual soccer calendar. This tournament was held annually in February, that was, the birthday anniversary of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
"A similar tournament was in the offing this year and was dubbed Bob 90. According to the media which had been awash with this tournament, the semi final was pencilled for Barbourfields Stadium on the 16th February 2014. This was going to pit Highlanders against Harare City, and the victor was going to meet Dynamos who were the cup holders, in the final in Harare.
"Historically the booking of Barbourfields Stadium for this tournament had been mired in controversy.
"It would be remembered that only last year the same tournament was held and Barbourfields hosted the first leg of the final. Regrettably, the 20% cash takings of $9 593,79 due to Council were taken away from Council staff by the very tournament organizers. They argued that Council was not entitled to any gate takings. This they said because they had made submissions to Council requesting for free use of the stadium, and Council responded late in the process turning down their request. To date, that money had not been recovered despite engaging the Police.
"On that score, it would be prudent for Council to remind the tournament organizers and the conveners that was the Premier Soccer League of last year's incident.
"It was also proposed that Council demand that the Premier Soccer League, as the custodians of soccer matches in the country, be the guarantors of the match, the proceeds from the match as well as Council's share. However for such highly emotive and political matches it would be prudent for Council to request the Premier Soccer League to pay upfront the normal hire charge of US$2 211.45 per day for soccer matches.
"Secondly there would be need for the organizers to pay a deposit of $960 against damages that might result from the match. Such deposits would be refunded if no damages were encountered after the match. In the previous year's match, Council staff had encountered difficulties in demanding Council's share of the proceeds in the form of 20% that 166 was taken after cash counting at the end of the match. Council's staff had to be assisted by the Senior Security Officer, but still the money had not been given to Council to date.
"The Premier Soccer League had said they too had no powers since the money was forcibly taken in front of the police.
"The Director of Housing and Community Services therefore suggested that the organizers of the tournament (Premier Soccer league) pay upfront the stadia hire charge of $2 211.45, plus a refundable deposit of $960.
"The matter was considered and Councillors deplored the manner in which this tournament had been handled during a similar event in 2013 as detailed in the report. The apparent disregard of Councils rules and regulations and display of arrogance on the part of the organizers was uncalled for. The fact that follow-ups through police involvement had up to now yielded no positive results was also of concern here .
"In view of this, it was agreed that an up front payment plus refundable deposit be provided by the applicants.
"On that note it was -
"RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND:
"That the Premier Soccer League be requested to pay up front the normal hire charge of $2 211.45 plus refundable deposit in the hire of stadia for the above mentioned soccer tournament."
Source - ZimbabweFocus
