Bosso contest CAF ban

Bulawayo soccer giants Highlanders, have written to the PSL seeking to have a three-year suspension imposed on the club by the Confederation of African Football last year lifted.

Highlanders were suspended by the continent’s football governing body last year after failing to take part in the Caf Confederation Cup, which they have been entered by Zifa against the club’s will.

During the 2010 season, Highlanders finished third on the log after Motor Action and Dynamos, which automatically qualified them for the Confederation Cup, Africa’s second-tier inter-club competition.

However, due to financial problems dogging the Bulawayo giants, Bosso told Zifa they would not be able to finance their participation in the competition.

Zifa however  went ahead and registered Highlanders among local clubs representing the country in continental competitions.

Caf rules state that any club that fails to fulfil fixtures gets an automatic three-year suspension.

Highlanders, who are on a revival path following years of floundering, currently top the PSL log standings with 23 points from nine games, leading second-placed FC Platinum by five points.         

They are now early favourites to win their first Zimbabwean title in six years, but that feat will be overshadowed by their Caf disqualification, which means they cannot represent the country in the African Champions League.

Highlanders’ chairperson, Peter Dube, said his club is serving a sentence for a crime they did not commit and have resolved to petition the mother body through PSL.

"We are pursuing the issue because we do not believe we should be persecuted for something that we did not do. We have written to the PSL CEO as we believe the body will be able to pursue the matter on our behalf," said Dube.

"The club clearly spelt out their position to Zifa regarding participation in the Caf tournament and we feel hard done by Zifa who registered us when we had clearly stated our financial position."

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