Sports / Local
Former Bosso player assaulted at Highlanders offices
15 May 2013 at 03:23hrs | Views
FORMER Highlanders striker Simbarashe Gate was allegedly attacked on Monday evening by unidentified people at the Highlanders offices.
Gate had gone to the club offices to find out about his $2 500 said to be owed to him by the club for his signing-on fee during his stint at Bosso in 2011.
Narrating his ordeal yesterday, Gate, one of six players that walked out on Highlanders during Mkhuphali Masuku's tenure after a player revolt, said he went to the club offices as per the agreed time with secretary Andrew Tapela.
"When I got there (club offices) I suspect there was some meeting going on inside and as I made my way to the other side of the offices, I was suddenly manhandled by about three guys who started assaulting me saying I was there to cause problems at their club," claimed Gate, whose left cheek was swollen.
The Highlanders executive and technical team, meet every Monday evening to review the previous week.
He alleged that as he was being assaulted Highlanders manager Willard Kumalo and assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu came out of the offices and ordered the three guys to be "a bit soft" in their assault.
"The people who were assaulting me then released me and I immediately went to report the matter to the police at Bulawayo Central Police where a docket was then opened," said Gate, who claimed to be plying his trade in India for Mohammedan Sporting Club.
Highlanders' assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu said while he saw Gate at the offices, it was not true that they had ordered his assailants to give him a soft beating.
"We only went outside the office when we heard some commotion because our cars were parked outside. He was visibly drunk and causing all sorts of problems.
"We then went back inside and after a few minutes he came back with police officers," said Ndlovu.
The police report number is 3666/13.
Contacted for comment Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela said since the case was now in the hands of the police, he would not comment.
However witnesses who saw the whole drama unfold said the stocky player came to the Highlanders offices visibly drunk and shouting some obscenities.
"He clearly was up to something because one could not tell whether he was a player or a vagrant. He even soiled himself as he was being refrained from entering the offices," a witness claimed.
Gate had gone to the club offices to find out about his $2 500 said to be owed to him by the club for his signing-on fee during his stint at Bosso in 2011.
Narrating his ordeal yesterday, Gate, one of six players that walked out on Highlanders during Mkhuphali Masuku's tenure after a player revolt, said he went to the club offices as per the agreed time with secretary Andrew Tapela.
"When I got there (club offices) I suspect there was some meeting going on inside and as I made my way to the other side of the offices, I was suddenly manhandled by about three guys who started assaulting me saying I was there to cause problems at their club," claimed Gate, whose left cheek was swollen.
The Highlanders executive and technical team, meet every Monday evening to review the previous week.
He alleged that as he was being assaulted Highlanders manager Willard Kumalo and assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu came out of the offices and ordered the three guys to be "a bit soft" in their assault.
"The people who were assaulting me then released me and I immediately went to report the matter to the police at Bulawayo Central Police where a docket was then opened," said Gate, who claimed to be plying his trade in India for Mohammedan Sporting Club.
"We only went outside the office when we heard some commotion because our cars were parked outside. He was visibly drunk and causing all sorts of problems.
"We then went back inside and after a few minutes he came back with police officers," said Ndlovu.
The police report number is 3666/13.
Contacted for comment Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela said since the case was now in the hands of the police, he would not comment.
However witnesses who saw the whole drama unfold said the stocky player came to the Highlanders offices visibly drunk and shouting some obscenities.
"He clearly was up to something because one could not tell whether he was a player or a vagrant. He even soiled himself as he was being refrained from entering the offices," a witness claimed.
Source - chronicle
