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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZRP Hwange have been booted out of the Southern Region Division One League for failing to pay affiliation fees that saw them missing more than three matches.

Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza confirmed the expulsion of ZRP Hwange, who were the league’s whipping boys, and said those that have been walked over twice are just a match away from being kicked out of the league.

ZRP Hwange were walked over four times this season on 3-0 score lines to championship contenders Bulawayo Chiefs, fellow police sides ZRP Bulawayo and Black Boots, as well as Hwange Juniors.

Mandaza said the teams that were due to play against ZRP Hwange will all be awarded three points on 3-0 score lines.

The clubs set to benefit from ZRP Hwange’s expulsion are ZRP Bulawayo, title contenders Amagagasi, Bosso 90, Ntabazinduna, Technosphere, Victoria Falls Tigers and Makomo.

“We’ve written to ZRP Hwange notifying them that they are no longer part of the league because they’ve missed four games.

“Our rules and regulations are clear; a team loses its slot once it misses three matches.

“Because we’ve passed the halfway mark, all the teams that are supposed to face ZRP Hwange will all get three points on 3-0 score lines,” said Mandaza.

He could not be drawn into stating how much ZRP Hwange owes the league for affiliation fees.

Sources said ZRP Hwange owes the league more than half the affiliation fees. As a new club, ZRP Hwange were supposed to pay $3 000 in affiliation fees.

“What led to ZRP Hwange’s expulsion is that they failed to present a payment plan to clear their outstanding affiliation fees.

The league was left with no option but to chuck them out because it was felt that it’s not fair to have them in the league at other clubs’ expenses,” said a source.

Another club that is one game away from being kicked out of the league is Technosphere, who were walked over by Black Boots and ZRP Bulawayo.

Meanwhile, league leaders Bantu Rovers will travel to Ntabazinduna for a league match tomorrow.

Rovers have 50 points from 23 outings and enjoy a three-point lead over Bulawayo Chiefs, who will be home to Victoria Falls Tigers at Luveve Stadium.

Third-placed Amagagasi welcome Casmyn at Victoria Falls Stadium, while ZPC Hwange welcome three points since they were meant to face ZRP Hwange.

Results

Saturday: ZRP Hwange v Black Boots (cancelled), Hwange Juniors 2-2 Makomo, Casmyn 0-1 ZPC Hwange, Technosphere 2-4 Bulawayo Chiefs, Indlovu Iyanyathela 1-1 Ntabazinduna, ZRP Bulawayo Province 0-0 Amagagasi

Yesterday: Bantu Rovers 2-1 Bosso 90, Talen Vision 1-0 Victoria Falls Tigers

Fixtures

Tomorrow: ZRP Bulawayo Province v Bosso 90 (Fairbridge, 12PM), Amagagasi v Casmyn (Victoria Falls), ZPC Hwange v ZRP Hwange (cancelled), Black Boots v Hwange Juniors (Fairbridge), Makomo v Talen Vision (Hwange, 12PM), Ntabazinduna v Bantu Rovers (Ntabazinduna), Technosphere v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Hwange), Bulawayo Chiefs v Victoria Falls Tigers (Luveve)

Table
P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Bantu Rovers                    23    16    2    5    43    12    31    50
Bulawayo Chiefs               23    14    5    4    35    15    23    47
Amagagasi                         23    13    7    3    26    9    17    46
ZPC Hwange                      23    12    9    2    26    12    14    45
ZRP Bulawayo                   23    9    8    6    22    15    7    35
Black Boots                        23    8    8    7    29    19    10    32
Talen Vision                       23    9    5    9    22    27    -7    32
Technosphere                    23    7    8    8    13    22    -9    29
Bosso90                              23    7    7    9    27    25    2    28
Victoria Falls Tigers         23    8    4    11    19    25    -6    28
Indlovu Iyanyathela         23    7    4    12    17    27    -10    25
Casmyn                               23    5    9    9    20    20    0    24
Makomo                             23    5    9    9    16    19    -3    24
Ntabazinduna                    23    4    10    9    12    30    -18    22
Hwange Juniors                23    3    9    10    10    25    -15    19
ZRP Hwange                      23    2    3    18    11    48    -37    9

***Cancelled pending payment of outstanding affiliation fees

@ZililoR.