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Ngqabutho Moyo Sports Reporter
Zifa Southern Region Division One League newcomers Makomo Resources FC’s players have gone for 10 months without salaries.
A number of them are said to be stranded in the coal mining town without money to take them home.The club played its last match of the season in mid November to top the table and gain promotion.

In a letter in Chronicle’s possession, the players appealed to Zifa to intervene.

The players alleged that they were owed in excess of $3,000 from February.

One of the players who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of losing out completely said most of the players were now squatting with friends as they had been chased from rented lodgings.

“We were chased away where we used to stay because we were in rent arrears, some are staying in a two-roomed house and we’re 14 players and can hardly afford food and survival in Hwange,” said the player.

Team captain Peter Gani said the players were given $300 each by the team which most of the players used to settle part of the debts they accrued for their survival in Hwange for the past 10 months.

“We were given $300 each by the team but the problem is that most of the players had to settle debts being money owed to locals who have been supportive and caring for the team for the past 10 months,” said Gani.

The players complained that there were wild celebrations after their promotion to Division One, with the team throwing parties while they had not been paid.

The players said they were promised their dues on December 12 but the team treasurer referred the players to Kuda Nyabonda, the team and company spokesperson who later said the company’s finance department would be in a better position to comment.

Makomo team chairman Menard Maera denied all allegations.

“All the players were paid, we deposited money in their Stanbic Bank accounts long ago,” he said.

The team’s treasurer identified as Phiri referred Chronicle back to Nyabonda.

Nyabonda said with payments of $300, the players were the best motivated in Division Two.

“I can confirm that we gave the players $300, and they’re very happy in fact they’re the happiest players in the Zifa Division Two leagues in the country”.

The players confirmed getting the $300 but said they got it after demonstrating at the company’s premises.

“We were given the money after we had gone to the company headquarters and protested outside about salaries,” said the source.