FC Platinum, Chicken Inn in player wrangle

THE stage has been set for a show down between two premiership clubs over allegations that premiership cheque book side FC Platinum invited three Chicken Inn players for trials without the clubs approval.

"We received a letter from Chicken Inn complaining about why FC Platinum had their players on trials. The players are said to be having running contracts with Chicken Inn. We have since written to FC Platinum to respond and they are yet to do that," said Premier Soccer League (PSL) chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele.

Sources close to developments at the Innscor sponsored outfit revealed  that the players are dreadlocked and combative anchorman Felix Chindungwe, lanky Thandazani Nkomo and Brian Mbiriri.

Chicken Inn chairman, Lifa Ncube confirmed the development refereeing this reporter to club secretary Tawengwa Hara.

 Repeated efforts to get a comment from Hara were fruitless is he was said to be continuously out of his office.

"Yes we had some of our players who went for trials at FC Platinum without the club's consent. We have running contracts with them and we have since written to PSL about the matter. Anywhere talk to Hara about the matter," said Ncube.

Chindungwe and Nkomo are rumoured to be having their contracts with Chicken Inn expiring on 31 December but the club has since sought an audience with them with the hope of making them sign new contracts.

Mbiriri is said to be having a couple of years remaining on his contract with the Innscor sponsored outfit.

FC Platinum trials have attracted a bulk of premiership players that include Highlanders captain Gilbert Banda , Motor Action's duo of Allan Gahadzikwa and Masimba Mambare.

Gunners' silky midfielder Ali Sadiki and Michelle Katsvairo have continued to impress at FC Platinum as they were on target when platinum miners played against Bantu Rovers in a friendly match last weekend in preparation for their debut in the Caf Champions League.

Ismael Lawe, Cliff Sekete and Qadr Amini, who were Tanzania with the Warriors for the Cecafa Tusker Challenge, are also likely to be snapped up if they impress Rahman Gumbo.

Chicken Inn and FC Platinum were PSL debutants in the just ended season. The former finished the season on position eight while the later finished in an impressive second.

The league was clinched by Dynamos on the last day owing to a photo finish between the Glamour Boys and the platinum miners.