Sports / Soccer
Border players threaten to boycott Mutare Rovers match over wages
28 Apr 2016 at 01:48hrs | Views
Newly promoted Border Strikers players reportedly staged a sit-in at their Dulibadzimu training ground on Tuesday and threatened to boycott their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against Mutare City Rovers this weekend if they are not paid their outstanding salaries and sign-on fees.
The players claimed club officials have been avoiding them and the strike was meant to force them to address their plight.
Some players said their spouses were questioning why they continued playing without getting paid.
"Imagine we've gone for three months without pay and still have given our best to the club even though we've lost our opening three matches. Surely, we can't continue surviving on handouts because we've families to take care of. If our grievances are not addressed, we won't play," said one player.
It took the intervention of Footballers' Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz) president Desmond Maringwa for them to train yesterday, while negotiations continued.
Maringwa said: "I'm in Beitbridge on Fuz business, which coincided with the Border Strikers' strike. We've been in meetings with the management, which seems to understand the players' concerns, and we hope to make a breakthrough tomorrow (today). As players' representatives, we want to get a lasting solution to this issue and while we're waiting for the outcome, the players are training."
Some players said their spouses were questioning why they continued playing without getting paid.
"Most of us here are family men and we earn our living through football. My wife doesn't believe me when I tell her that we're yet to be paid since the season started in March. I've to take care of my kids, buy food for the family and pay rent.
"Where does the club think I'm getting the money to survive? At the end of the day, my wife will leave and find someone that can provide for her," lamented another player.
The players claimed club officials have been avoiding them and the strike was meant to force them to address their plight.
Some players said their spouses were questioning why they continued playing without getting paid.
"Imagine we've gone for three months without pay and still have given our best to the club even though we've lost our opening three matches. Surely, we can't continue surviving on handouts because we've families to take care of. If our grievances are not addressed, we won't play," said one player.
It took the intervention of Footballers' Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz) president Desmond Maringwa for them to train yesterday, while negotiations continued.
Maringwa said: "I'm in Beitbridge on Fuz business, which coincided with the Border Strikers' strike. We've been in meetings with the management, which seems to understand the players' concerns, and we hope to make a breakthrough tomorrow (today). As players' representatives, we want to get a lasting solution to this issue and while we're waiting for the outcome, the players are training."
Some players said their spouses were questioning why they continued playing without getting paid.
"Most of us here are family men and we earn our living through football. My wife doesn't believe me when I tell her that we're yet to be paid since the season started in March. I've to take care of my kids, buy food for the family and pay rent.
"Where does the club think I'm getting the money to survive? At the end of the day, my wife will leave and find someone that can provide for her," lamented another player.
Source - chronicle
