Players revolt over unpaid bonuses

HWANGE-based Zifa Southern Region Division One side Mpumalanga were this week rocked by a rare player revolt over unpaid dues.

The club, that has been running over the years without a major sponsor, was recently taken over by coal mining company Makomo Resources who pledged to take care of all the team's financial obligations such as camping allowances, winning bonuses for the players and technical staff, referees' fees as well as transport for away matches.

However, the company is alleged to have failed to meet their end of the bargain, barely a few weeks after coming on board and the players would have none of it.

"The players have not been paid as promised, early this week they pledged a sit-in and threatened to continue until their demands were met," said a source close to the team.

The source further revealed that the team is actually sitting on a time-bomb following some sweeping changes to the administration of the team that seemed to favour hangers on and close colleagues.

"Mpumalanga is a community team and its structures must reflect that," said another source.

The team is probably the first in the world with a whopping 16 member executive, something totally outside the Zifa and even Fifa statutes for a professional or semi-professional club.

Some social clubs have better administrative set ups.

Some of the executive members at the club are alleged to be employees at Technosphere, a company that also has a team in the same league with Mpumalanga, raising questions on conflict of interests.

Club chairman Mernard Maera confirmed that there was a slight problem in the team but claimed that a "communication breakdown" was the major problem.

"There was a bit of a communication breakdown but otherwise everything is under control," said Maera.

Asked about the bloated executive committee, Maera, who is also Makomo Resources' production manager, said they wanted to accommodate "everyone" who had done something for the team.

"We did not want to leave out anyone who had done something for the team before as making wholesome changes would also have caused a few problems," said Maera.

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga play host to Blackboots at Nengasha Stadium in Empumalanga Township on Sunday in a match set to be full of thrills.

Both teams will be seeking their first wins of the season although the Hwange team are playing their first match of the season.

Division One action, however starts tomorrow with two potentially explosive matches in the coal mining town.

Last year's league runners up, ZPC (Hwange), who drew 1-1 with Blackboots, will be involved in a derby with the Thamsanqa Vundla-coached Technosphere at Chakona Stadium while across town at Lwendulu, it will be a clash of the Rovers, Rufaro Rovers taking on Bantu Rovers.

Wounds are still very fresh for Tshintsha Guluva after Rufaro Rovers put up a giant-killing performance that denied Bantu Rovers the sole ticket to the Premiership in the last game of the season. It goes without saying that it shall be a pound for pound encounter. It won't matter that the two teams share a surname!

Another Hwange team, Hwange Juniors, are on the road to Tsholotsho.

Former Premiership side Quelaton, 3-2 winners over Technosphere last weekend, take on Bulawayo Jumbos at White City Stadium.

Flamboyant Bulawayo Chiefs, 1-0 winners over Hwange Juniors, are home to Mkhosana at Dingumuzi Stadium, in a match that will see fans probably more interested on the home team bench than the actual play. Legendary former Highlanders and Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo is the team's technical advisor.

The last match tomorrow will see New West City clashing with Ajax Hotspurs at Portuguese Club.

Zifa Southern Region Division One Fixtures:
ZPC (Hwange) v Technosphere (Chakona), Quelaton v Byo Jumbos (White City), Byo Chiefs v Mkhosana (Dingumuzi), New West City v Ajax Hotspurs( Portuguese), Rufaro Rovers v Bantu Rovers (Old Ground), Tsholotsho v Hwange Juniors (Business Centre)