Harare City escape Caf penalty ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela
ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela

ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE City seem to have escaped Caf sanctions for withdrawing from the Caf Confederation Cup after the continental football governing body excluded the Division One-bound side from its 2018 tournament draw on Wednesday.

Harare City won the right to represent the country in the tournament reserved for teams that win a major domestic cup tournament in their respective leagues by winning the Chibuku Super Cup.

The Sunshine Boys beat How Mine 3-1 in the final and initially confirmed their participation in the Caf Confederation Cup before deciding against the move following their relegation from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

There were fears that that action could attract sanctions in terms of the Caf statutes.

Chapter XI, Article 1 of the regulations, spells the course of action on matters pertaining to club withdrawal and states that: “(1) A national association who registered one or more teams should confirm their engagements to play all matches of the competition until their elimination.

“(2) In case of withdrawal of a team, its federation shall be responsible for the financial and other consequences to be determined by the organising and disciplinary committee of Caf.”

Zifa communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, who had initially been quoted saying they had not received any communication from Harare City regarding their withdrawal from the tournament, said they submitted the club’s position to Caf before the Wednesday draw.

“We did advise Caf of their (Harare City) withdrawal before the draw,” said Gwesela.

The Harare side would have been the second Zimbabwean side to be sanctioned by the continental mother-body after Highlanders, who were banned in 2012 for withdrawing after the draw.

Although the Bulawayo giants never consented to their registration, former Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze went ahead and submitted their name for registration.

Bosso were subsequently slapped with a three-year ban from Caf competitions which lapsed in 2016.

With the withdrawal of Harare City, Zimbabwe will now have one club participating in continental club competition, FC Platinum in the Caf Champions League where they hope to emulate Dynamos and Caps United by at least reaching the group stage of the tournament.

Pure Platinum Play will have to overcome Angolan side Desportivo de Agosto in the preliminary round and either Bidvest Wits of South Africa or Mauritanian side Pamplemousses to realise this dream. — @skhumoyo2000

 

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