Caps United celebrate winning the 2016 Premiership title in this file photo.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS have become the first club to congratulate Caps United for winning the 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.

Makepekepe lifted their fifth league title in history on the last day of the games with a 1-0 win over Chapungu United at Ascot Stadium, a result which rendered their closest rivals FC Platinum’s 3-0 away win over Tsholotsho inconsequential. The victory over Chapungu took Caps United’s points tally to an unassailable 63 as FC Platinum finished at 61 points.

In a statement yesterday acting Highlanders chairman Modern Ngwenya said Caps United must now represent the county well in the Caf Champions League next year.

“On behalf of Highlanders I would like to congratulate Caps United for winning the 2016 league Championship. We wish them all the best as they proceed to represent the country in the Caf Champions League,” said Ngwenya.

He said as Highlanders they still remained satisfied that they performed well even though they did not win the league themselves, a dream which almost became a reality only to turn into a nightmare, especially following the departure of their leading goal scorer Bruce Kangwa for Tanzania’s Azam. Bosso struggled to cope thereafter.

“It was a great season in which we performed relatively well. Even though we came third we remain proud that we surpassed our top four target set for the technical team at the beginning of the season. The league was characterised by breathtaking performances from the top three teams. The fact that the championship went to the wire shows how competitive the league was and we were very much in the matrix. The season was also a year we buried the DeMbare ghost that haunted us in previous years,” said Ngwenya.

Highlanders managed back to back triumphs over Dynamos, beating them 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium in the first leg before completing a memorable season with a 2-1 win at Barbourfields Stadium.

Meanwhile, the two giants – Bosso and DeMbare – clash at Barbourfields Stadium this Sunday as a shut down to the Bosso @90 celebrations.

“There is no better way of celebrating our 90 years than a victory over our perennial rivals this coming Sunday. There shall be a musical extravaganza from morning until midday. Our very own legends will curtain raise before the main match,” said Ngwenya.

Highlanders are likely to field the rookies that routed Hwange 3-0 in the last match of the league in the same venue.

@Skhumoyo2000.

Mandla Mpofu

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum goalkeeper Nelson Chadya will skipper the Zimbabwe Under-20 Cosafa Championships squad during the 2016 tournament that gets underway today at the Moruleng Stadium in South Africa.

The Young Warriors take on Zambia at 4.30PM and the coaches are looking at a winning start so that the boys will gain confidence.

“We have given the armband to Chadya. He has leadership qualities and is a great motivator,” said head coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu in a brief interview from South Africa yesterday.

The Ngezi Platinum shot stopper is also an understudy in the senior national team and remains a good prospect if he keeps his head low.

Mpofu said today’s game was a must-win for the nation as it will settle their nerves ahead of the last Group B fixture against Malawi on Friday.

“We must win, no doubt about that as it will give the boys confidence and self belief,” said Mpofu who will be assisted by Triangle United’s Biggie Zuze.

There are four groups in the tournament, Group A and C made up of four teams while Group B and D have three teams each.

The teams will play each other in a round-robin format with the top sides from each pool advancing to the semifinals.

One twist is that the top teams in Groups B and D after the second round of matches will play a third game as a crossover fixture between those two pools to ensure that most competing sides get to play three times.

The top team in Group B will play the second team in Group D and vice-versa.

The third-place play-off and final of the competition will both be played on December 16, which is a public holiday in South Africa.

Two venues, the Mogwase Stadium and Moruleng Stadium will be used for the tournament with the latter being used exclusively from the semifinals onwards.

Zambia have been the most successful side in the history of the Championships with 10 victories to their name, followed by Zimbabwe with six.

South Africa have claimed five titles with Madagascar the only other team to lift the trophy after their 2005 triumph.

In the last edition of the tournament in 2013, Zimbabwe beat Swaziland 2-1 through goals by Walter Musona and Teenage Hadebe in their first match before drilling three goals without reply past Botswana. Carlos Rusere, Liberty Chakoroma and Musona were on target. Their last qualifications round saw them drawing 1-1 with Mozambique with now Sweden-based Tinotenda Kadewere on target for the Young Warriors.

The performance was enough to see Zimbabwe qualifying for the semifinals where they lost 4-2 to South Africa on penalties.

Meanwhile, agents from Netherlands are reportedly set to watch Zimbabwe’s matches, beginning with today’s encounter.

@Skhumoyo2000

Bhekimpilo Nyoni

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League’s disciplinary committee has slapped Bulawayo City FC with a $2 500 for using over-age players in their developmental ranks.

The players concerned, Lewis Ncube, Dean Pelius Sibanda and Bothwell Nyathi were also found guilty and have been hit with 12 month bans.

The trio used fraudulent documents which led to them being registered in the development quota, reserved for Under-20 players at the beginning of the year.

City are expected to pay $2,000 by end of this month, with the remaining $500 suspended for the remainder of the 2017 season on condition the club is not convicted of any offence involving dishonesty.

According to a summary of judgments released yesterday, Amakhosi, as City are affectionately known, contravened order 31.2.8 of the PSL rules and regulations, that is knowingly furnishing incorrect information, of whatsoever nature to the PSL.

City are lucky to escape with just a fine as the league’s disciplinary committee had said issues to do with age cheating deserve stiff penalties.

“Clubs must be at the forefront of confronting and eliminating cheating, not to be seen as aiding or abetting through commission or omission. A severe sentence is the most appropriate under these circumstances as such behavior can easily become cancerous,” reads part of the City’s judgment.

For submitting wrong dates of birth on the forms that were then submitted to PSL by City the players were banned from all football activities for 12 months, three months of which have been suspended on condition the players do not within that period commit a similar offence. The players were instructed to each pay a third of the costs of the hearing by December 31, and neither player shall participate in any PSL officially sanctioned match even after serving the ban until they pay their share of the costs.

Punishment passed on Ncube, Sibanda and Nyathi is likely to be welcomed as the sport has become infested with age cheats.

With the PSL seemingly taking no prisoners with regards to age cheating, most youngsters who have been encouraged to alter their ages so that they compete in junior competitions will have second thoughts about using their fake documents.

Bhekimpilo Nyoni, of BN Academy and also the chairman of the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association (Zisca) applauded the PSL’s decision and challenged Zifa to also come hard on age cheats.

“When the PSL introduced the juniors’ quota, they wanted to give youngsters a chance to play but unscrupulous administrators have defied the spirit of Fair Play by using over-age players under that slot.

“The action taken by PSL’s disciplinary committee showing that they don’t condone age cheating is very good. What Zifa needs to do is to descend on those who influence and corrupt the developmental stages such that we end up having ‘reborn’ youngsters. Even members of the community who know age cheats should come out so that deserving youngsters get opportunities to play and develop,” said Nyoni.

@ZililoR.

Lucas Perez celebrates scoring their third goal with Granit Xhaka and Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal’s Spanish striker Lucas Perez seized his chance to shine with a Champions League treble as they outclassed Basle 4-1 away to steal the Group A top spot from Paris St Germain on Tuesday.

The Gunners enter the last 16 as group winners for the first time since 2011 and at least know they cannot face favourites Barcelona, who won their group, in the first knockout round.

Lucas, making only his fifth start since joining from Deportivo La Coruna for about 17 million pounds ($21.55 million) in August, struck twice from close range inside 16 minutes.

He netted again two minutes after the break to become only the sixth Arsenal player to score a hat-tick in the competition.

Alex Iwobi made it 4-0 after 53 minutes and it could have been even better for Arsenal as Alexis Sanchez rattled the crossbar with a fizzing free kick.

The St Jakob-Park crowd finally had something to warm them on a cold night when substitute Doumbia flicked in a consolation goal after a skilful turn in the area.

Arsenal topped the group with 14 points because PSG, on 12, were surprisingly held 2-2 at home by Bulgarians Ludogorets who qualify for the Europa League last 32 at the expense of Basle.

PSG would have guaranteed top spot had they won but instead had to snatch a last-gasp equaliser from Angel Di Maria.

“I thought Ludogorets were a good side — they made a great result that helps us top the group, which was what we wanted,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

“We did the job in a convincing way, we were mobile and overall had a committed performance.

“I think (Lucas) Perez took advantage of the fact we created good chances — he is a goalscorer you know, he has shown tonight he has a good smell for the goal.”

Lucas’ only goals since joining Arsenal were a brace in a League Cup win over Nottingham Forest in September, since when he has rarely featured because of an ankle injury.

It did not take him long to double that tally though as Arsenal tore into their hosts.

Lucas opened the scoring after eight minutes when Sanchez’s chipped pass found Kieran Gibbs and his low cross was missed by Eder Balanta, giving the Spaniard the easiest of tap-ins.

Eight minutes later Arsenal were cruising when Gibbs’ cross-shot was parried by keeper Tomas Vaclik and Lucas swept home following a move involving 33 passes — the most in the build-up to a goal so far in this season’s competition.

Basle captain Matias Delgado wasted a chance to halve the deficit shortly before halftime with a wayward header.

Vaclik was then unable to keep out Lucas’ shot two minutes after the break as the Arsenal striker emulated Mesut Ozil’s hat-trick in a 6-0 home win against Ludogorets in October.

Iwobi’s close-range goal was his first in Europe.

The news got better for Arsenal as the scoreline filtered back from Paris where Ludogorets, who twice led, held on for a draw that left PSG resigned to second place.

All eyes will be on the draw now as Arsenal will hope their reward for topping the group is not a tie with Bayern Munich who could only finish as runners-up in Group D.

Results

Tuesday: PSG 2 – 2 Ludogorets; Dynamo Kyiv 6 – 0 Besiktas; Manchester City 1 – 1 Celtic; Basel 1 – 4 Arsenal; Benfica 1 – 2 Napoli; Bayern München 1 – 0 Atlético Madrid; PSV 0 – 0 Rostov; Barcelona 4 – 0 Borussia M’gladbach — Reuters

Gabriel Nyoni

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni has committed himself to the club for the next two years after penning a contract extension yesterday.

Bosso have indicated that they intend to wrap up all outstanding contract talks with their players before year end.

Nyoni took to social media to announce his continued stay and loyalty to the Bulawayo giants, who finished third in the league under coach Erol Akbay.

“Am sorry to any other club I snubbed, its only that I believe in loyalty. Being loyal is really important even in your relationships, jobs, school and to God,” posted Nyoni on his Facebook.

Acting Highlanders chairman Modern Ngwenya said that they had signed a contract with Nyoni and were hopeful that senior players like Rahman Kutsanzira, Erick Mudzingwa and Simon Munawa would also do the same.

“Actually we expect the three guys (Kutsanzira, Mudzingwa and Munawa) to sign their contracts today (yesterday) as we want to avoid  headaches next year. Some players might have to be released but we can’t do that before getting replacements,” said Ngwenya.

Kutsanzira last month told a press conference that he was committed to the Highlanders cause and will definitely be part of the team next year.

Goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda is said to have long renewed his contract while Soccer Star of the Year finalist Peter Muduhwa extended his stay at Bosso by two years a few weeks ago.

In another positive development for Amahlolanyama, FC Platinum’s two finalists for the 2016 Soccer Stars of the Year, Winston Mhango and Petros Mhari are said to be eyeing a move to the Bulawayo giants following the expiry of their contracts with the Zvishavane side.

One of the two players confirmed that they want to leave the platinum miners to join Highlanders.

“Our contracts expire in the next few weeks and no talks have been held regarding an extension,” said one of the players.

Mhari, the 2016 Goalkeeper of the Year is also said to be on the Caps United radar.

@Skhumoyo2000

Minister Makhosini Hlongwane

Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
THE Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane believes the nation should start reaping rewards from the revamped National Youth Games by winning medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Hlongwane is optimistic of the future after announcing a repackaged Games programme which is more inclusive and modelled along the basic standards expected at the Olympic stage.

Under the new strategy, the Government has proposed thorough talent identification and selection with the competitions starting from the ward level up to the national competitions.

For the first time, the Games will not only target schoolchildren as tertiary institutions, community clubs and uniformed forces have also been included in two-tier competitions involving the Under-18 and the Under-21 athletes.

Just like the process for the qualification to the Olympic Games, all sport codes will have qualification standards from the ward level.

The next edition of the National Youth Games will be held in Hwange next year.

“The focus is to make sure that in 2020, not only do we send the biggest delegation to the Tokyo Olympics but also that we send the best athletes.

“That’s why we have broadened the net of talent identification to include every athlete who aspires to be part of the national project by having Ward Youth Games.

“This is because our current structure is exclusive of those that aspire to express themselves, those that have the best talent but are not provided with the platform to deploy that talent for the benefit of our country,” said Hlongwane.

The National Youth Games are a deliberate effort by the Government to develop quality athletes who match international standards in an effort to acquire more medals especially at the Olympic Games.

However, the Government was concerned by the perennial underachievement by Zimbabwean athletes at the big stage despite the huge investment in the Youth Games.

Since independence Zimbabwe has managed only eight medals, seven of them coming from one athlete Kirsty Coventry.

The women hockey team was the first to win gold in 1980 when they stunned the world at the Moscow Games.

Hlongwane said the Youth Games, starting from Hwange 2017, will be modelled along the same lines as the Olympic Games as contained in the national Sports Policy that was launched this year.

“We have critical sporting and recreation groups that have been excluded by the current format of the National Youth Games strategy so that it becomes an all-inclusive festival of sport in the country.

“It should be the biggest, it should be the best in terms of standards, organisation and also in terms of its ability to provide athletes with an opportunity to develop their career pathways.

“We also do this in order to make sure that the national Youth Games become an important filter for the identification of talent which then lands itself to participation in the Olympics Games which is the biggest performance stage by any athlete.

“So we want all stakeholders to be an important part of this celebration which we call the revised national Youth Games strategy.

“The key point is that these games are now going to be starting in the communities throughout the country.

“At the beginning of next year we are going to block one week when the ward Youth Games will run as a way of kick-starting the process. We then move to the District Youth Games.

“Those that would have done well are promoted to the next stage by way of a select based model competition structure. It is then at the Provincial Youth Games that the selection of provincial teams is done as a way of preparing to participate for the Hwange 2017 National Youth Games,” said Hlongwane.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
A total of 55 racers have registered to participate at Saturday’s Bulawayo Motoring Club’s end of year event — Toyota Castrol 3 Hour Endurance Race to be held at the Bulawayo Motorsport Park, formerly known as Victoria Falls Road Circuit.

Leonora Young, one of the organisers of the biggest motorsport event of the year which started in 1969, said this year’s edition has attracted foreign competitors from England, South Africa and Botswana.

Fourteen-year-old British born Zimbabwean rider Connor Thompson who competed at the British Superbikes recently was the first to jet into Bulawayo last Wednesday, with South Africa’s Monroe Racing Club and their teenage sensation Savannah Woodward arriving yesterday.

Young said they expect participants from Botswana to arrive in time for the race.

“So far we’ve received 55 entries for both cars and bikes. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better. Besides local participants, we also have drivers and riders coming from the UK, South Africa and Botswana to add flair to the competition. Local motor racing enthusiasts should brace for an exciting weekend,” said Young.

The motorcycles will take centre stage between 1PM and 2PM before the motorsport enthusiasts enjoy a Three-Hour Endurance which will start at 3pm until 6pm.

South Africa’s Shelby Can Am series have six confirmed entries with Botswana’s super fast Nardini coming to give Bulawayo guys a run for their money.

Shaun Whyte will be defending his title on the motorbike side with his Yamaha R6. He won the one hour race with 45 laps in the previous event followed closely by Dave Mouat and Cam Aitken also with 45 laps on a Honda CBR. Mathew Shultz completed with 43 laps falling into third place and the quartet should expect stiff challenge from Thompson.

Thompson has been delivering good results which saw him grabbing the attention of front running teams. For the 2016 season, Connor signed for Team Steelmate Racing and finished a very impressive sixth in the championship despite missing the first four rounds, also bagging two wins and four second-place finishes.

In the women’s category, all eyes will be on 16-year-old Woodward who has been prolific this year, having competed in both South Africa and Zimbabwe. Her highlight was being selected for the Red Bull Rookies Cup trials in Spain.

Other female bikers expected at the BMC event include Bianca Schultz from Bulawayo, who will ride a Honda CBR600 and is expected to face stiff competition from Harare’s Tiffany Fisher, who will also be using a similar bike.

These two competitors have improved steadily in recent years, with Tiffany winning last year’s Megelli 250 cc Zimbabwe National Championship.

@ZililoR

Value Gas managing director Maurice Masike (fifth from left) and Archers darts club captain Tafadzwa Mtomba display one of the T-shirts donated by Value Gas at the company premises in Bulawayo yesterday. Looking on are players from Archers while on Masike’s right is his father Newton

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
A leading energy company yesterday donated a set of uniforms to the Bulawayo Metropolitan Darts Association champions Archers ahead of their Champion of Champions tournament in Kwekwe next month.

Value Gas, a national LP gas retailing company that also has interest in petrol and diesel distribution throughout the country, donated more than 30 high quality golf T-shirts at a brief ceremony held at the company premises in Belmont yesterday.

“I must confess that I knew little about darts before I heard about Archers darts club who made me realise that darts is a good sport with lots of discipline too. It was then that we decided after discussions with the team, to partner with them.

“For us it is part of our corporate social responsibility and we hope our relationship with Archers will grow from strength to strength,” said Value Gas managing director Maurice Masike.

He said the company will continue to play an active role in communities that give them the business.

Speaking after receiving the donation, Archers’ non playing captain and  football icon, Ernest Maphepha Sibanda said they will forever remain indebted to Value Gas for their kind gesture and promised to win the Kwekwe championship for them.

“We want to pay back Value Gas by bringing the Champion of Champions trophy to Bulawayo.

“We won our local league and Archers made history by becoming the first club in the country to win the league title without a loss,” said Sibanda.

All the T-shirts are inscribed with team members’ names.

There was an emotional moment when a T-shirt bearing the name of the late football icon Willard Mashinkila Khumalo was  paraded by the sponsors.

The late legendary Highlanders and Warriors great, who passed on last year, was a member of Archers darts club.

Other football icons who are members of  the club are Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo, legendary juniors coach Ali ‘Baba’ Dube and Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda.

@Skhumoyo2000

Bruce Kangwa

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
Nominees for outstanding Highlanders players who will be rewarded at an awards ceremony tomorrow, close this afternoon.

Bosso who are looking at rewarding 15 players at a ceremony set for Bulawayo Polytechnic, approached 56 companies to assist in bankrolling the stars night.

In a bid to also draw funds for the awards ceremony from their supporters, Highlanders encouraged its followers to buy forms to select their outstanding players at the club offices.

The acting Highlanders chairman Modern Ngwenya said counting of supporters’ ballots will be done this afternoon and Bosso are ready for the awards night.

“We’re working flat-out to have a glitzy awards ceremony. Ballots close at midday and we’re also making follow-ups with companies and individuals who promised to partner us so that we know how much we will be giving to players and which awards are the partners adopting. We’ve covered enough ground and we’re grateful to companies and individuals that supported the initiative to honour players following a season where the first team did well under the present coach, Erol Akbay,” said Ngwenya.

Companies and individuals were free to choose which awards they want to sponsor and the minimum prize is $300.

Awards will be for the Player of the Season, Top goal scorer, Outstanding new-comer to the team, Most promising player, Most disciplined player, Longest serving player, Scorer of the most spectacular goal(s), goalkeeper of the season, Players player of the season, Captain’s award, Most consistent player, Most improved player, Best junior player at Division One, Supporters player of the year and Supporter of the year.

The club’s vice-captain Erick Mudzingwa is guaranteed the longest player accolade, having made his debut in 2007.

Bruce Kangwa who scored seven goals before moving to Tanzania’s Azam FC during the mid-season break will take the top scorer’s award and is among favourites to pick accolades at the awards ceremony.

Some of the players likely to be rewarded for their performances include Soccer Star of the Year finalist Peter Muduhwa, his defensive partner Tendai Ndlovu, midfielder Rahman Kutsanzira, Simon Munawa, Mudzingwa, goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda and rookie Prince Dube.

Players who will walk away with accolades are likely to feature during Highlanders’ 90th anniversary celebration match against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ngwenya appealed to club’s supporters and companies to buy their tickets at the club’s office.

By midday yesterday, 10 companies had acquired 10 tables with Ngwenya saying they are left with about 20 tables.

“Those who wish to attend and mix with the club’s players can buy their tickets at the club offices. Individuals can get a seat for $50, with a table of 10 going for $400,” said Ngwenya.

@ZililoR

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
BOSSO90 and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Bulawayo sailed through to the final of the Southern Region Division One Soccer League’s Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Trukumb Mining Enterprises Top Eight Cup after winning their respective games yesterday.

Bosso90 and ZRP Bulawayo will fight it out in the final to be played at Hartsfield Ground on Saturday.

ZRP Bulawayo needed a 4-2 penalty shootout win against Victoria Falls’ Amagagasi in the first semi-final encounter played at Hartsfield Ground yesterday. The match had ended 0-0.

Bosso90 went on to beat visiting ZPC Hwange 2-0, getting their goals from Brendon Dube and Muzi Dlamini.

Despite the win, Bosso90 coach Melusi Sibanda felt his team could have done more.

“I am happy with the win although the guys did not perform the way we expected. The pitch was a little bumpy and if we were in a different pitch we would have won the match by four goals or more. Our opponents were not in the game so we should have done better than this. What is however pleasing is that we won the match so it’s a good result for us,” said Sibanda.

ZRP Bulawayo coach, Rodgers Ndlovu was happy with his team’s performance.

“I’m happy with how we defended. When you look at our game we had very few shots at goal as our strikers were not aggressive upfront. We will go and work on our mistakes and hope to do better in the final against Bosso 90,” said Ndlovu.

The winner of the tournament will take home $2 400 with the runners-up pocketing $1 500.

Amagagasi and ZPC Hwange got $700 each for reaching the semi-final stage.

@khumzallen

Philip Chiyangwa

Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa yesterday said the formation of the National First Division next year will resolve the dilemma in the relegation and promotion processes.

The National First Division set up is provided for in the constitution but could not be implemented over the years because of lack of resources and coordination.

But, addressing journalists yesterday on the celebration of his first anniversary in office, Chiyangwa yesterday said the formation of the second-tier will be the panacea to the challenges bedeviling the football fraternity.

Zifa and their biggest affiliate, the Premier Soccer League, are currently at each other’s throats over the relegation and promotion procedure for next season.

The Harare businessman told the media that the football authorities find themselves in the quandary because the leadership has for a long time ignored the provision of the constitution which states that there should be a national second-tier league which feeds into the Premiership.

Chiyangwa, whose two-year term expires in 2017, said it will be one of his priorities to see that the proposed league is up and running next season.

“The champions have to be promoted to the Premier League from that First Division. And then there has to be Second Division in line with promoting football if there are enough teams and a third division as well.

“The constitution provides for four posts for the national league that have never been filled. Why I would want the First Division league to be there is because right now you can see the conversations that we are currently engaged in; it will not have been necessary because that league would have produced the champions known to everybody who should be promoted.

“Right now it’s appearing like it’s by negotiation for a team to be promoted. It’s not supposed to be like that. When the First Division league is there, it does its own play-offs when necessary. They knock each other out and two teams come up to the Premiership.

“What I am saying is that we don’t want a negotiated thing like what is happening. Whenever you reach such a position it means you must fix yourselves, Zifa must fix the problem.

“It must never become a negotiated settlement. It must be done as the constitution says. The constitution provides for that,” said Chiyangwa.

He said the National First Division was expected to run along the same lines as the PSL.

Chiyangwa said the four regional leagues will provide the teams that should participate in the national league.

The Zifa president is expected to articulate his position in parliament today after the association and PSL were summoned to explain the state of the game to the Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport, Arts and Culture chaired by Matobo North Member of Parliament Never Kanye.

The football association, however, have indicated they may not be able to attend the indaba as they are currently seized with the Cosafa Under-20 Championships which began in South Africa yesterday.

Chiyangwa said an amicable solution to the relegation/promotion puzzle would be reached.

Anna Mguni

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
A MASSIVE doping scandal has rocked the sport of swimming in the country with young swimmers allegedly being injected with banned substances two weeks before major competition events.

Swimmers as young as 14 years have been victims of the dark secret that has also sucked in a top medical centre in the capital (name withheld), which is believed to be charging $140 per single jab.

Investigations by Chronicle Sport have revealed that athletes have been taking banned Vitamin B, through what is known as the Intravenous (IV) infusions.

According to the World Anti Doping Agency, Intravenous (IV) infusions have been included on the WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods under section M2.

“The wording in the 2015 Prohibited List states that Intravenous infusions or injections of more than 50 ml per 6 hour period are prohibited except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures or clinical investigations (1),” says Wada.

Some of the swimmers said to have taken the prohibited substance under the World Anti Doping Agency are part of the Team Zimbabwe that left the country yesterday for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Games. Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) last night confirmed getting heed of the matter but said they are yet to get a formal complaint.

Sources however revealed that some influential administrators and parents have made sure the scourge “which has been going on for years” is swept under the carpet.

A source said panic buttons were pressed during the recently held Mashonaland Swimming Championships after an official from the Zimbabwe Swimming Board and Control, Caroline Hawgood made an announcement about doping in the sport.

“The announcement was made by Caroline Hawgood although I don’t know what post she holds in anti- doping in swimming. The ‘Vitamin B’ injections have been going on for years. Parents pay maybe every Thursday and nurses come to inject. Little did we know it was illegal,” said a source.

The source said one parent (name supplied but withheld) owned up and asked for the withdrawal of her son (name withheld due to age) from the national team as he had been injected with the banned substance.

Investigations further revealed that a doctor identified as Austin Jeans was assigned to  investigate the doping allegations.

Contacted for a comment Hawgood said: “Please wait until ZOC medical council have completed their investigations.” However, ZOC chief executive officer Anna Mguni said no formal investigations are being carried out by the organisation.

“The 2015 WADA code allows people to come forward and report suspected cases of doping and such cases can be investigated. No such reports have been formally submitted to ZOC: the allegations provided are speculative and in relation to this, ZOC has not mandated Dr Austin Jeans to investigate. Any consultation he has been undertaking has been principally in his capacity as a sports medical expert, having been approached in his private capacity.

“I refer you specifically to the WADA Code Articles Two and Three, related to Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Proof of Doping as some of the fundamental areas that require investigation and verification, if and when a substantial report is made. The code also outlines the list of prohibited substances that people must know and follow. There are ten specific violations in the code which must be clearly understood and thereafter it has to be seen whether any have been violated by the aforementioned sport code. The plan of Action at this stage is to gather facts out of rumours and engage the swimming federation in a transparent manner,” said Mguni in an emailed response last night.

@Skhumoyo2000

Petros Kausiyo, Harare Bureau
ZIFA are adamant they will not recognise the application filed by the Premier Soccer League with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The country’s football mother body insisted the top-flight body needed to first exhaust domestic remedies over the relegation-promotion dispute that has cast a shadow on the closure of the 2016 season.

Despite the PSL receiving confirmation that the Swiss-based CAS had begun proceedings in the arbitration case filed by the elite clubs, Zifa last night argued that the application would be of no force or effect to them.

The Zifa constitutional committee chairman Itai Ndudzo last night said the Association had not been served with any further papers from CAS.

Ndudzo said Zifa would, however, not be intimidated by communication from CAS as they were treating the PSL and the 16 clubs as different entities, arguing that it is the clubs and not the league who are members of the Association.

The Premiership clubs agreed to approach the Swiss court to either arbitrator or mediate on the matter and appointed Caps United chairman Lewis Uriri and London-based lawyer Pat Kachidza to handle the application.

CAS this week then wrote to both parties through top lawyer Jose Luis Andrade outlining the procedure and the options that are available for the soccer mother body and its flagship affiliate.

“The present arbitration procedure presents prima facie characteristics of both appeals procedure before the CAS. In light of the claimants’ option to file a request for arbitration the request for relief contained therein and the priori hybrid nature of this matter, the case has been assigned to the ordinary Arbitration Division and shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Articles R38 et Esq. of Code of Sports-related Arbitration,’’ read part of Andrade’s letter.

The CAS lawyer also suggested mediation on the matter.

“I take this opportunity to draw the parties’ attention to the possibility of submitting this dispute to CAS mediation, which would not prejudice the parties’ right to subsequently re-submit the dispute to CAS arbitration, should the dispute remain unresolved at the conclusion of the mediation procedure.

“A successful mediation procedure would result in bringing settlement, the terms of which will have been agreed upon by both parties.

“Mediation has potentially significant time and cost advantages for both the claimants and the respondent and is more a flexible procedure, which facilitates more creative means of resolving the dispute,’’ Andrade said.

Andrade’s letter effectively meant that:

- Zifa have 10 days to reply to the PSL request for interim measures of protection.

- Zifa have 20 days to reply to the substance of the claim.

- Zifa have 5 days to agree to three arbitrators as PSL have suggested and nominate their preferred arbitrator. If they don’t the president of the ordinary arbitration division will decide on the number of arbitrators and appoint them.

- Zifa and PSL may by agreement pursue the cheaper route of mediation by CAS’’.

If the spirit of the communication from CAS is anything to go by then the two parties have 10 days to agree to arbitration failing which the matter would proceed to arbitration.

But Ndudzo claimed Zifa had not received such communication and insisted the Association would not to be moved by any of the parameters set out in the letter.

The Harare lawyer, who has also been advising Zifa in their dispute with the PSL over the number of teams to be promoted into the top-flight for the 2017 season, also maintained that CAS did not have jurisdiction over the matter.

“Zifa has only received one communication from CAS dated 6 December 2016. The letter advises Zifa of a request for arbitration filed by the PSL and 16 PSL clubs.

“The letter from CAS requests Zifa to reply within twenty (20) days. Zifa in the reply has to address whether CAS has jurisdiction.

“Zifa’s position is very clear. CAS has no jurisdiction on two grounds.

“1. Article 59(1) of Zifa’s constitution which clearly establishes an arbitral tribunal headed by advocate Isaiah Mureriwa. That is the body that deals with disputes between Zifa and any of its members.

“2. Zifa does not have any member called PSL. The exhaustive list of Zifa’s members is listed in Article 10 of the Zifa constitution. There is clearly no PSL in that list. The PSL cannot impose itself as a Zifa member outside the constitution. That should be common sense.

“Only individual PSL clubs are members of Zifa. As you know they all freely, willingly and voluntarily participated in the Congress decision which they cannot contest simply because they lost.

“Losing an election in which you fully participate does not give rise to a dispute. You have to be magnanimous in defeat, particularly in sport,’’ Ndudzo said.

Ndudzo also dismissed the mediation bid suggested by Andrade.

“There is no scope for mediation by CAS. Zifa already has a process led by Piraishe Mabhena that is attending to the issue comprising of PSL club representatives.

“Also note Zifa has not been furnished with any interim measure request.

“At this juncture Zifa is not perturbed by the outrightly ill conceived and groundless, baseless embarrassing approach to CAS. It’s a trifle that will expose ignorance of very elementary provisions of the Zifa constitution,’’ said Ndudzo.

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
HIV Prevention Soccer League’s Mayellow FC yesterday lifted the World Aids Day Cup after beating Makopo FC 3-2 in a final played at Ndola ground in Iminyela, Bulawayo.

A brace from Ophias Banda and a goal from Gilbert Gore were enough for Mayellow to clinch the title while Makopo FC had Moffat Sonje hitting a brace. Mayellow FC  walked away with a floating shield and $500 with Makopo FC pocketing $400. The tournament was part of World Aids Day commemorations whose theme was

“Closing the tap of new HIV infection.”

Youth Creative Ideas (YCI) partnered with the National Aids Council (NAC) to form the HIV Prevention Soccer League whose aim is to create awareness for HIV and Aids through soccer.

Organisations  such as Restless Development, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), Rehabilitation and Prevention of Tubercolosis (RAPT), Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, Population Services International, Positive Living Association of Zimbabwe, Matabeleland Aids Council, Builders International, Dot Youth, and World Vision teamed up to make the World Aids Day tournament a success.

“We are happy that this event was a success and as a league we also thank our all sponsors who made it possible to have such a tournament. Our aim is to teach Bulawayo teams to get involved in health issues and soccer is another way of drawing large numbers of people together so that we educate them,” said HIV Prevention Soccer League president Mthokozisi Ndlovu.

Meanwhile, FC Chelsea beat Lobengula Youth Centre 3-0 to take home $250 with the latter getting $150.

-@khumzallen

Takudzwa Chitsiga, Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police Support Unit volleyball team is scheduled to leave the country this morning for the annual Zone VI Championships in Swakompmund, Namibia.

The team had a send-off ceremony on Wednesday in which Angeline Guvamombe was the guest of honour at Chikurubi.

The Support Unit Volleyball Club will grace the championships after winning the Harare Volleyball Leagues in the men and women’s categories.

The Zone VI games will run from December 11-20 and Zimbabwe will be well represented by the two teams from the local police elite unit.

Speaking at the send-off ceremony, Officer Commanding Support Unit and guest of honour, Guvamombe, said the tournament was important as it is a qualifier for the Africa Volleyball Club Championships.

“We have gathered here to bid farewell to our men and women volleyball teams that are destined for Namibia. The Zone VI volleyball championships require top two teams per gender and the event serves as a qualifier for the Africa Volleyball Club Championship and so it is important.

“This is a tournament which every club dreams to be part of and for our men’s team they have been participating in this tournament since 2012 while the women were there in 2013 and 2014.

“I am pleased that you once participated in the Africa Volleyball Championships in Tunisia last year and the experience is vital as it will expose you to superior tactics,” said Guvamombe.

The team received a lot of support from the corporate world who included Doves Funeral Services, Mineral Marketing Cooperation of Zimbabwe, Topics, First Mutual Life Assurance and Lafarge, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, MMCZ representative Rodrick Chikwira, said they were happy to be part of the team.

“We will always be behind Support Unit and we will continue our partnership,” said Chikwira.

Doves Funeral Services provided both teams with playing kits and their communications executive, Kuda Mutandi, said they were happy to be associated with winners.

“We are happy as Doves Funeral Services to be associated with champions and we hope our support will help them do well in Namibia,” he said.
Charles Makumi is the head of delegation.

Meanwhile, a bus carrying a delegation from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation was involved in an accident, just outside Harare, yesterday.

The officials were going to Hwange for the Youths in Education through Sport.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
A TOTAL of 55 racers have registered to participate at tomorrow’s Bulawayo Motoring Club’s end of year event – Toyota Castrol 3 Hour Endurance Race to be held at the Bulawayo Motorsport Park, formerly known as Victoria Falls Road Circuit.

Leonora Young, one of the organisers of the biggest motorsport event of the year which started in 1969, said this year’s edition has attracted foreign competitors from England, South Africa and Botswana.

Fourteen-year-old British born Zimbabwean rider Connor Thompson who competed at the British Superbikes recently was the first to jet into Bulawayo last Wednesday, with South Africa’s Monroe Racing Club and their teenage sensation Savannah Woodward arriving yesterday.

Young said they expect participants from Botswana to arrive in time for the race.

“So far we’ve received 55 entries for both cars and bikes. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better. Besides local participants, we also have drivers and riders coming from the UK, South Africa and Botswana to add flair to the competition. Local motor racing enthusiasts should brace for an exciting weekend,” said Young.

The motorcycles will take centre stage between 1PM and 2PM before the motorsport enthusiasts enjoy a Three-Hour Endurance which will start at 3pm until 6pm.

South Africa’s Shelby Can Am series have six confirmed entries with Botswana’s super fast Nardini coming to give Bulawayo guys a run for their money.

Shaun Whyte will be defending his title on the motorbike side with his Yamaha R6. He won the one hour race with 45 laps in the previous event followed closely by Dave Mouat and Cam Aitken also with 45 laps on a Honda CBR. Mathew Shultz completed with 43 laps falling into third place and the quartet should expect stiff challenge from Thompson.

Thompson has been delivering good results which saw him grabbing the attention of front running teams. For the 2016 season, Connor signed for Team Steelmate Racing and finished a very impressive sixth in the championship despite missing the first four rounds, also bagging two wins and four second-place finishes.

In the women’s category, all eyes will be on 16-year-old Woodward who has been prolific this year, having competed in both South Africa and Zimbabwe. Her highlight was being selected for the Red Bull Rookies Cup trials in Spain.

Other female bikers expected at the BMC event include Bianca Schultz from Bulawayo, who will ride a Honda CBR600 and is expected to face stiff competition from Harare’s Tiffany Fisher, who will also be using a similar bike.

These two competitors have improved steadily in recent years, with Tiffany winning last year’s Megelli 250cc Zimbabwe National Championship.

— ZililoR

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS FC supporters have called on Zifa to immediately lift the suspensions of club chairman Peter Dube and chief executive officer, Ndumiso Gumede.

Chairpersons of different Bosso supporters’ chapters issued a statement on Wednesday saying that the two should only have been sidelined from Zifa and Premier Soccer League (PSL) and not the club.

The branch chairpersons that signed the statement include Daniel Molokele (South Africa), Morgen Dube (Victoria Falls), Derrick Ncube (Harare), Qobolwakhe Mayisa (United Kingdom), Liqhwa Gama (Canada) and Ronnie Sibanda (Gwanda).

The supporters’ leaders expressed their continued support for their leaders.

“We as the Chairpersons of the various Highlanders FC Bosso supporters’ chapters both in Zimbabwe and in the Diaspora, would like to express our full solidarity with our leaders who were recently suspended under controversial circumstances.

“We would like to state plainly that we are fully behind our chairman Peter Dube and CEO Ndumiso Gumede.

“We are totally opposed to their suspensions by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa). We also support every effort that is being undertaken to have their suspensions lifted,” read part of the statement.

The supporters called on Zifa to engage the relevant parties so as to urgently resolve the suspension of the two as it was negatively affecting the running of Highlanders.

They said Dube and Gumede’s roles at Highlanders should not have been affected.

“Our team is now being punished for matters that have nothing to do with Bosso,” said the supporters.

Dube and Gumede were suspended last month by the Zifa executive committee, with the former being accused of disrupting a Zifa assembly meeting held on October 29 alleging he was speaking with authority from the association’s president Philip Chiyangwa.

In suspending Dube, Zifa also claims the Bosso chairman urged other PSL clubs to walkout, something that the suspended leader denies, challenging Zifa to produce video evidence showing him inciting disorder since the meeting was recorded.

Dube is challenging his dismissal with his lawyers having written to Zifa querying his suspension while PSL clubs have also called for his reinstatement as the two bodies seek a solution to the relegation impasse.

Gumede’s crime according to Zifa is writing to Fifa in a bid to try and overturn the Chiyangwa-led board decision.

Gumede took Highlanders to the Labour Court challenging his dismissal and won.

Grace Chingoma, Harare Bureau
DISGRACED former Zifa programmes officer, Jonathan Musavengana, has made history, for all the wrong reasons, after becoming the first Zimbabwean to be banned, from all football-related activities around the world by Fifa, for life.

He was found guilty of bribery and corruption.

The ban comes four months after a Fifa Ethics Committee’s Investigatory Chamber recommended that Musavangena and two other officials from South Africa and Togo, including the former South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani, should be sanctioned.

Nematandani was hit with a five-year ban while former Togo national team coach Banna Tchanile was, like Musavengana, slapped with a life-time ban from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.

Musavengana has been pleading his innocence saying he is just a small fish that is being targeted in a web of corruption.

According a media release from Fifa yesterday, the trio’s banishment was effective from yesterday, and was related to the friendly international matches which Bafana Bafana played ahead of South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup finals.

Fifa say a number of the matches were manipulated after Safa were infiltrated by an Asian match-fixing gang which then arranged the matches and provided referees who were instructed to handle matches that would provide a pre-determined result.

Other cases might also have been considered by Fifa although the world football governing body did not name them.

“The three cases decided related to international friendly matches played in South Africa in 2010, as well as to cases decided by the adjudicatory chamber in October 2015,” Fifa said .

“The investigations, initiated in September 2015, were conducted by Djimrabaye Bourngar, deputy chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee, and the final reports were passed to the adjudicatory chamber on 17 August 2016.

“In this regard, Mr Nematandani was found guilty of having violated Article 13 (General Rules of Conduct), Article 15 (Loyalty) and Article 18 (Duty of Disclosure, Co-operation and Reporting) of the Fifa Code of Ethics and was sanctioned with a ban from taking part in any football-related activities for five years.

“Furthermore, the adjudicatory chamber decided that Mr Musavengana and Mr Tchanile had both infringed Article 13 and Article 21 (Bribery and Corruption) of the FCE and imposed a life ban on the two former officials.”

The trio was found guilty by the adjudicatory of the independent Ethics Committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert.

Musavengana, who has since relocated from Zimbabwe, and the former Togolese coach only learnt of their bans on the Fifa website or through media reports after they failed to furnish the adjudicatory chamber with their fax numbers.

However, pursuant to Article 78 of the Fifa Code of Ethics, the Ethics Committee may decide not to communicate the grounds of a decision and instead communicate only the terms of the decision.

Tchanile, the former Togolese coach, was already banned by his country’s federation after taking a team masquerading as the Togolese national side to play a friendly with Bahrain in 2010 organised by a match-fixing cartel. The former coach is expected to pay costs of the legal proceedings amounting to CHF (Swiss Francs) 5 000 within 30 days of notification of the present decision.

And he is also expected to bear his own legal and other costs incurred in connection with the present proceedings. Musavengana was a lower division referee in Zimbabwe and later rose to become Zifa’s programmes officer.

He was first found guilty by the Zifa leadership, under the guidance of Cuthbert Dube, over the Asiagate scandal and was handed a life ban from the game.

Fifa, however, declined to endorse the Asiagate bans because they felt Zifa had not given the sanctioned parties a fair hearing, had not used their disciplinary channels to reach a decision and had not provided the world football governing body with enough evidence to support such a conviction.

The current Zifa Board, under Harare businessman Philip Chiyangwa, brought closure to the Asiagate saga by lifting the suspensions imposed on all individuals.

But Musavengana was later fingered by the same Zifa leadership in the Limpopogate scam, which also sucked in former Zifa board member Edzai Kasinauyo, ex-Warriors coach Ian Gorowa, former Warriors assistant coach Nation Dube and the association’s former chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya

Both Musavengana and Rushwaya were banned for life by Zifa for the second time.

However, a Harare magistrate freed Rushwaya, Dube and Kasinauyo, who had been arrested in a criminal case related to the scandal, saying there wasn’t enough evidence to put them to their defence and saying the case should not have even been brought before the courts.

Chiyangwa announced, in the wake of that decision, that his Zifa leadership will review the bans that were imposed on Kasinauyo and Dube but maintained that Musavengana and Rushwaya will remain banned for life from domestic football’s activities.

“It’s another vindication of our stance on the people that we believe are the key figures in this mess and we are happy that Fifa have come to such a determination on this case,” said Chiyangwa.

“We provided them with our recommendations and we await what they will also say on our recommendations that Henrietta should be banned from football for life around the world and not only in Zimbabwe.

“It is a major deterrence to others who may want to commit similar offences. There are people who do things in football that are unbecoming and this is the only way to stop them from further harming our football.”

Bafana Bafana were handed two questionable penalties in a 2-1 victory over Colombia in Johannesburg on May 27, 2010.

One of the spot kicks was ordered to be retaken twice after the initial efforts were saved.

Colombia’s goal also came from a penalty.

Four days later South Africa were awarded another two spot kicks in a 5-0 win over Guatemala in Polokwane.

One of the referees of those matches was said to have walked into a South African bank carrying more than $50 000 in cash to be transferred to the account of his wife in West Africa.

Manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday that Arsenal would not sell Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil even if the pair fail to agree fresh terms with the Premier League club.

Both players are in the final 18 months of their contracts and British media report that negotiations have faltered over salary demands, with Arsenal unwilling to break its current wage structure to retain them.

The reports suggested that Arsenal might CASH in on Sanchez or Ozil in the close season, but Wenger told a news conference that the club is doing all it can to tie them down to fresh terms.

“These players will stay for at least 18 months,” he said. “We are professional people and we work until the last day of our contract with full commitment.”

The Frenchman did not OFFER assurances that the duo, who have been instrumental in Arsenal’s rise to second in the table and qualification for the Champions League group stages, would be at the Emirates Stadium once their current deals end.

“I’m not the only one who can decide that,” he added. “They have 18 months (left on their) contracts and are completely committed to do well as long as they are here.

“Beyond that, we will try to extend their contract but I cannot make a subject of that in every press conference.

“No matter what happens they will stay for 18 months and hopefully for much longer.”

Sanchez has been thriving in a central striking role for Arsenal this season, scoring 13 goals in 20 appearances and keeping Olivier Giroud out of the side. Ozil has been in equally impressive form, with eight goals in 19 appearances.

Wenger’s team have not lost in the league since the opening day of the season, and won 5-1 at West Ham United last weekend. Arsenal host ninth-placed Stoke City tomorrow.

“We are playing well but have plenty of room for improvement,” Wenger said.

“We want to develop as a team and that is what we have done since the start of the season. We had a difficult start but responded very well. I feel the team is on the way upwards.”

Francis Coquelin is back from suspension for the Stoke game, while full back Hector Bellerin faces a late fitness test. Striker Danny Welbeck and centre back Per Mertesacker are still unavailable.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Watford v Everton (Vicarage Road Stadium 14:30), Swansea City v Sunderland (Liberty Stadium 17:00), Hull City v Crystal Palace (Kingston Communications Stadium 17:00), Burnley v AFC Bournemouth (Turf Moor 17:00), Arsenal v Stoke City (Emirates Stadium 17:00), Leicester City v Manchester City (King Power Stadium 19:30).

Sunday: Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion (Stamford Bridge 14:00), Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (Old Trafford 16:15), Southampton v Middlesbrough (St. Mary’s Stadium 16:15), Liverpool v West Ham United (Anfield 18:30) — Reuters.

Philip Chiyangwa

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports reporter
THE Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday gave Zifa 10 days to respond to the Premier Soccer League (PSL)’s suggestion to have three arbitrators handling their relegation and promotion impasse.

Acknowledging receipt of the PSL’s request for arbitration filed with the Supreme Court of sport on November 22, CAS counsel Jose Luis Andrade revealed that the league nominated Dr Markus Bosiger, an attorney based in Zürich, Switzerland, as their preferred arbitrator.

Zifa was given 20 days to respond to the substance of the PSL’s claim and send written submissions of its defence or counterclaim.

The submissions to CAS should “be filed by courier, in at least six copies”.

The national association, whose councillors ambushed the PSL by making a shock resolution to relegate four teams and promote four from the Zifa regional leagues, is left with six days to officially respond to CAS.

A 2015 Zifa congress resolved to drop two teams from the topflight and stage promotional play-offs involving winners of Zifa’s four regional leagues to determine the two teams to take up the PSL slots for the 2017 season.

Rescinding the 2015 resolution to relegate two teams is the bone of contention between Zifa and the PSL.

Zifa, whose lawyer Itai Ndudzo said CAS doesn’t have jurisdiction on the matter, has up to tomorrow to furnish the Switzerland-based court if it’s comfortable having the arbitration done in English as suggested by the PSL.

Upon receipt of Zifa’s submissions, CAS said: “The parties are advised that it will then be for the panel to issue further directions with respect to the written proceedings.”

Both Zifa and PSL will have to shoulder arbitration costs, and the two parties will have to pay an advance.

Andrade suggested that Zifa and PSL consider the mediation route as a way to end the current standoff.

“Finally, I take this opportunity to draw the parties’ attention to the possibility of submitting this dispute to CAS mediation, which would not prejudice the parties’ right to subsequently re-submit the dispute to arbitration, should the dispute remain unresolved at the conclusion of the mediation procedure,” he said.

“A successful mediation procedure would result in a binding settlement, the terms of which will have been agreed upon by both parties. Mediation has potentially significant time and cost advantages for both the claimants and the respondent, and is a more flexible procedure, which facilitates more creative means of resolving the dispute.

“Pursuant to article 6 of the CAS Mediation Rules, unless the parties agree between themselves as to whom the mediator will be, he/she shall be chosen by the CAS president from among the list of CAS mediators and appointed after consultation with the parties.”

A legal expert said the mediation route by CAS is cheaper, but Zifa is adamant that it will not recognise the application filed by the PSL, further dragging the impasse should no middle ground be found.

If the stalemate continues, the PSL which is willing to organise promotional play-offs for the four regional champions, Bantu Rovers (Southern), Black Rhinos (Northern), Shabanie Mine (Central) and Yadah Gunners (Eastern), are on record saying they will continue with the teams they had in the 2016 season. —  @ZililoR