The Sunday News
BULAWAYO football giants, Highlanders have accused Bantu Rovers of using underhand tactics to lure their player, Ishmael Ben Munsaka through offering the boy’s father a housing stand.
Highlanders wrote to Zifa querying the registration of the youngster by Bantu Rovers and the football mother body’s Southern Region administrator, Augustine Ndlovu confirmed they are handling the issue.
Bosso alleged their investigations revealed an official at Bantu who used to work for them was behind the move.
The player, who turned out for the Young Warriors in the 2014 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games, reportedly left Highlanders on “false pretences” after his guardian, Tsitsi Chikerama indicated they wanted the boy to return to school in Victoria Falls.
According to a correspondence seen by this reporter, Chikerema, who had entered into a contract with Highlanders on behalf of Munsaka, told the club they wanted the boy to resume studies at Mosi Oa Tunya High School in Victoria Falls resulting in the club giving him a clearance letter.
In the letter to Zifa, Highlanders wrote: “The matter of Bantu Rovers poaching players from other teams, year in year out, including our team, must be an embarrassment to yourselves as well.
“Bantu Rovers or an official of them has used underhand means to have him (Munsaka) registered with them. We wish to challenge this registration on the grounds that corrupt methods were used to induce the guardian to cancel the contract.”
A livid Highlanders chief executive officer, Ndumiso Gumede said they acted in good faith and gave the boy a clearance as they were convinced he was going back to school as Chikerema had indicated but were shocked to read in the Press he had joined Bantu.
Chikerema told Bosso Munsaka would “probably turn out for (Victoria Falls-based) Amagagasi in Division Two” to ensure he continues to nurture his football talent.
She asked to have the contract “terminated (for Munsaka) to further his studies and should there be any changes I will advise accordingly”.
Gumede said if the Southern Region team wanted the player they should have just approached his club instead of using underhand tactics.
“We will never stand in a player’s way but if he is to move he should do so in a proper and correct manner not how it has been done in connection with Ishmael. We will fight this to the end.
“It is our view that this amounts to corruption which the Ministry of Sport is seized with in terms of enacting legislation that will deal with match-fixing, bribery and corruption.
“If Bantu have registered the player then it is based on a fraudulent release and must be rescinded,” said Gumede.
The player’s contract with Highlanders was from the beginning of last year and had been set to end in December next year with the club having the first option of renewal.
Bantu Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda denied the accusations saying Munsaka approached them as a free agent.
“We never made contact with the player as alleged by Highlanders and we did not offer his father a stand or things like that. The boy came for training and produced a clearance from Highlanders showing that he is a free agent and the coaches felt we should enlist his services,” he said.
