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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
SOUTHERN Region Soccer League army side Indlovu Iyanyathela will be hauled over the coals by the Zifa Southern Region Disciplinary Committee after their supporters invaded the pitch and threatened to manhandle a referee in a match against Bulawayo Chiefs at Fairbridge last Saturday.

Indlovu Iyanyathela’s supporters went berserk and mobbed the referee, threatening to beat him up for allowing Chiefs’ second goal by Thabani Moyo to stand following attempts to disrupt play by the army side’s assistant coach Phillip Nyakupfaringwa. Nyakupfaringwa had kicked another ball onto the pitch in a bid to halt proceedings while Chiefs were on the attack, but they scored in the process.
Chiefs beat the eighth placed soldiers 2-0.

Zifa Southern Region board member Jabulani Chinyangarara said Nyakupfaringwa will also be charged individually.

“As a region, we don’t condone violence or any acts that disrupt football. Fair play should prevail all the times and as custodians of the game, we’ve decided to let the disciplinary committee deal with Indlovu Iyanyathela and their assistant coach. The date for the hearing will be announced in due course,” said Chinyangarara.

He apologised to Indlovu Iyanyathela coach Bekithemba Ndlovu, who was initially thought to be the one that kicked the ball onto the field to disrupt play.

“It came to our attention that Ndlovu wasn’t the one that kicked the ball and we apologise for the damage this could have caused to him as a person and coach,” said Chinyangarara.

Meanwhile, Ntabazinduna are two games away from being expelled from the Southern Region Soccer League due to non-payment of match officials’ fees.

The Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services’ club owe match officials $1,300.

Chinyangarara said Ntabazinduna, who forfeited two home games against Mpumalanga and Trumus, will be axed should they fail to clear the referees’ fees before their scheduled Week 29 home tie against Indlovu Iyanyathela.

“The rules are simple; you miss three games, you are expelled from the league. Ntabazinduna thought they were being clever by fulfilling away games. Their next game is away in Hwange against Makomo and if they fail to pay their due before the Indlovu Iyanyathela game, then they will join Old Nic Mine,” said Chinyangarara.

Old Nic Mine were expelled from the league after they failed to fulfil three consecutive games and all scheduled fixtures against them are walkovers.
Southern Region Soccer League

Results
Saturday: Ntabazinduna 0-3 Trumus, Mpumalanga 0-1 Nust, Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 Indlovu Iyanyathela, Bulawayo City 2-1 ZPC Hwange, Technosphere 1-0 Black Boots, Amagagasi 1-1 Casmyn, Bantu Rovers 2-1 Hwange Juniors, Old Mine 0-3 Makomo

Table
P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Bulawayo City     27    19    5    3    37    7    30    62
Bulawayo Chiefs    27    16    7    4    42    11    31    55
ZPC Hwange    27    13    10    4    31    12    19    49
Technosphere    27    14    7    6    31    15    16    49
Makomo    27    13    6    8    27    21    6    45
Bantu Rovers**    27    13    5    9    30    17    13    44
Casmyn    27    12    7    8    28    23    5    43
Indlovu Iyanyathela    27    11    6    10    19    20    -1    40
Black Boots    27    7    14    6    25    20    5    35
Amagagasi    27    8    11    8    20    21    -1    35
Ntabazinduna    27    7    8    12    21    29    -8    29
Trumus Warriors    27    6    10    11    18    21    -3    28
Nust    27    5    12    10    17    25    -8    27
Hwange Juniors    27    4    8    15    15    34    -19    20
Mpumalanga    27    3    3    21    11    46    -35    12
Old Nic Mine     27    1    6    20    7    58    -51    9
**Points deducted for using a suspended player
(pic Jabulani Chinyangarara)