mbulelo smpofu
Lovemore Dube, lovemore.dube@chronicle.co.zw
HIGHLANDERS have taken swift action to prevent a potential transfer ban by Fifa, which would come into effect from January 21, 2025.
The issue arose from a dispute between the club and former coaches Baltemar Brito and Antonio Joao Martins Leao Torres over unpaid signing fees, salaries, and bonuses from the 2023 season.
Despite helping Highlanders finish in fifth place with 54 points, the coaches left after their contracts were not renewed due to a perceived lack of attacking football, with the team scoring just 24 goals, the lowest in over 30 years.
However, Highlanders argue that the money owed was awaiting payment instructions from sponsors, and wished to avoid violating foreign currency regulations.
Highlanders chief executive officer, Brian Moyo has confirmed that efforts are being made to resolve the issue, as a transfer ban would have catastrophic consequences for the team.
The loss of key players, including 2024 Castle Lager Top Goal Scorer, Lynoth Chikuhwa, Marvelous Chigumira, Peter Muduhwa, and Godfrey Makaruse has made it clear that Highlanders will need to promote more young players and undertake significant market activity to maintain their brand value.
“We are aware of the matter. There are already initiatives by the club to address the problem soonest. We want to save the situation and we have advised Fifa about our position, including the coaches themselves and their agent Gilbert Sengwe,” said Moyo.
Moyo disclosed that for months some of the money to pay them their dues has been with the sponsors who are even willing to transfer the money into the gaffers’ local accounts today.
“We have been talking to them and it is easier for our sponsor to deposit the debt into the coaches’ local foreign accounts they used last year. But they have since closed them and they refuse for us to pay their agent here so that he pays them,” said Moyo.
He added that Highlanders had also approached the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to seek the best legal way to address the matter.
“We have even engaged the Reserve Bank who advised us what to do and we are happy with the advice. Some of the money will be sent this week, and we hope our sponsors will assist with what is outstanding,” said Moyo.
Brito is believed to be owed around US$9 000 in salaries and signing-on fees while Torres wants US$5 500. Both are owed US$11 000 as winning bonuses.
Highlanders’ financial position has been perilous for the past two decades and this has seen the club going 18 years without winning the championship, the longest since independence.
Despite the lack of on-field success, Bosso remain the biggest football franchise in the land because of big attendance figures at matches.
Cries for a first championship since 2006 keep getting louder and both coaches and executives are under pressure to deliver.
shloboe boe
