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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS risk Zifa sanctions if they continue associating themselves with the duo of suspended chairman Peter Dube and chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede.

Zifa has threatened to invoke Article 13(2) of its constitution.

While the association did not mention Highlanders, a memo to the Premier Soccer League clubs written by acting Zifa chief executive officer Joseph Mamutse yesterday directed the clubs to be fully compliant  with their membership obligations to Zifa in terms of Article 13 of the Zifa Constitution.

In particular, wrote Mamutse, each club is required to promptly submit to his office details of the club’s chairman/president, chief executive officer and the club’s spokesperson.

“Further, in accordance with Article 13(h), each club is bound not to maintain any relations of any nature whatsoever with persons and entities that have no legal recognition in the Zifa statutes or with individuals and members that have been suspended or expelled. Members are reminded that in terms of Article 17(2), each PSL club as a member of Zifa is required to take all decisions on matters regarding their membership independently of an external body, entity or person,” wrote the Zifa acting chief executive officer.

He reminded clubs that all Zimbabwe PSL clubs are required at all material times to be fully compliant with all decisions, directives and resolutions of the Zifa Congress and Zifa executive committee.

“Any violation of membership obligations may lead to sanctions provided for in the statutes in terms of Article 13(2) of the Zifa constitution,” wrote Mamutse.

The full Article 13 of the Zifa constitution.

Article    13: Members’ obligations

1 The Members of Zifa have the following obligations:

a) to comply fully with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of Fifa, CAF and Zifa at all times and to ensure that these are also respected by its members;

b) to ensure the election of its decision-making bodies on a regular basis;

c) to take part in competitions [if applicable] and other sports activities organised by Zifa;

d) to pay their membership subscriptions;

e) to respect the Laws of the Game as laid down by IFAB and to ensure that these are also respected by its members through a statutory provision;

f) to adopt a statutory clause                                     specifying that any dispute requiring arbitration involving itself or one of its members and relating to the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of Fifa CAF, Zifa or the League(s) shall come solely under the jurisdiction of the appropriate Arbitration Tribunal of Fifa, CAF or Zifa and that any recourse to Ordinary Courts is prohibited;

g) to communicate to Zifa any amendment of its statutes and regulations as well as the list of its Officials or persons who are authorised signatories with the right to enter into legally binding agreements with third parties;

h) not to maintain any relations of a sporting nature with entities that are not recognised or with Members that have been suspended or expelled;

i) to observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and good sporting behaviour as an expression of fair play through a statutory provision;

j) to observe the mandatory items specified under article 10 paragraph 3 for the duration of their affiliation;

k) to administer a register of members which shall regularly be updated;

l) to comply fully with all other duties arising from the Statutes and other regulations of Fifa, CAF and Zifa.

2 Violation of the above-mentioned obligations by any Member may lead to sanctions provided for in these Statutes.