Johannes Ngodzo
Sports Reporter
JUST a week after being crowned champions of the Southern Region Division One Soccer League, Bantu Rovers have sent coach Johannes Ngodzo on forced leave.
The club has also suspended three senior players and a member of the technical team.
The senior players, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Lindelani Ncube and Lenience Mpofu are said to have been plotting to influence their teammates to go for an industrial action over outstanding sing-on fees.
Team manager Wonder Mpofu is suspected to have been present when the players conspired to strike while Johannes stands accused of being absent without leave (AWOL) from work.
Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda confirmed that the quartet of Wonder, Zephaniah, Ncube and Lenience has been suspended pending investigations while Johannes has been asked to present a report about his absence.
“We’ve instituted investigations on the senior players you are asking about (Zephaniah, Ncube and Lenience) as well as the manager Wonder after getting some disturbing information that they intended to disrupt the team’s preparations this week. As a club we’ve got proper communication channels which everyone is aware of and we don’t condone any behaviour or plots that seek to bring the name of the institution into disrepute.
“Just like any other football club we do have challenges but we try by all means to make sure that our players have their dues paid on time. We value our players’ input that is why we go beyond our means to make sure that they’re paid on time their bonuses and salaries,” said Sibanda.
About Johannes, Sibanda said: “The coach went AWOL last week and we’ve asked him to write a report. In the meantime Chipo Tsodzo is in charge of the team that is preparing for the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Top Eight tournament.”