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Jonathan Mashingaidze

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
THE Zifa Eastern Region dispute involving champions Mutare City Rovers and runners-up Masvingo United is now being handled by the national association.

Masvingo, who narrowly missed promotion into the Premier Soccer League by a single point, complained that the Eastern Highlands side used their player Tafadzwa Mkahlera without clearance and Dylan Chivandire without a reverse international clearance from Gaborone United of Botswana.

Gaborone United officials have also indicated that they had not officially released Chivandire and as such he remains their player.

According to a letter addressed to Masvingo and copied to the Eastern Region’s administrator Thaddeus Machawira dated December 22, Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze acknowledged receipt of the complaint and promised to take appropriate action soon.

“Zifa is in receipt of your letter dated 21st December 2015 pertaining to the above and hereby acknowledges its contents. The association, by copy of this letter, has requested the Zifa Eastern Region office through Machawira to furnish us with background information on this matter,” Mashingaidze wrote.

“Appropriate action shall be taken in terms of the statutory provision of the association’s statutes and all parties concerned will be dully advised.”

Masvingo general secretary Collen Maboke said the matter had been referred to an appeals committee where the parties involved are expected to give their side of the story.

Maboke said Masvingo had a strong case.

He insisted that Mkahlera remains a Masvingo player, saying they had his registration papers to prove their claim.

“We have Mkahlera’s papers with us to prove that he is our player and not a Mutare City player, despite playing for them in three confirmed matches.

“We even have pictures where he was taken while warming up with his teammates when we played Renco Mine this year and yet people say he was never our player,” said Maboke.

He said there is strong evidence that Chivandire was not officially released by Gaborone United and was therefore not supposed to play for any team in Zimbabwe without a reverse international clearance.

When contacted for comment, Zifa Eastern Region secretary-general Simba Wisdom dismissed Masvingo United’s claim, saying both players were properly registered by Mutare City.

“Masvingo United have no case because Mkahlera has never been their player. He was registered with Mutare City Rovers without having to seek any clearance because he had no team he was attached to,” said Wisdom.

“Chivandire joined Mutare City after being cleared by Bantu Rovers, not that he was coming from Botswana and he needed no clearance to play football.”

However, Masvingo produced a contract they claim to have with Mkahlera and a Zifa Eastern Region Registration form indicating that he is their player.

If Mutare City Rovers are found guilty, points will be docked for every match they used the players central to the dispute and Masvingo United will be crowned Eastern Region champions and make a return to the topflight league.