BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA TELONE FC have challenged Sheasham’s promotion to the Premier Soccer League from the Central Region Division One alleging that the Gweru-based side used an ineligible player in some of its matches.
Sheasham, under coach John Nyikadzino, won promotion to the topflight a week ago but TelOne, who finished second, want Zifa to dock points off the Construction Boys over the use of Tawana Chikore.
They argue that the player was illegally registered by Sheasham after he had also been registered by Caps United in the same transfer window.
Chikore signed a two-year deal with Caps United in February this year and was subsequently registered by the Green Machine during the initial period which closed on March 31. It is Tel One’s contention that the player in question was registered with Caps United when he switched to Sheasham.
Although evidence has been provided by several parties, including the Premier Soccer League to prove Chikore had been cleared by Caps United and that his transfer was above board, TelOne president Lloyd Mutetwa insists the player was fielded illegally and that Sheasham promotion to the top division should be reversed by docking points for the matches he took part in. They are demanding the deduction of points for five matches in which Chikore took part.
He contends that the second registration of the player under Sheasham during the first registration period which closed on March 31 2022 was in clear violation of Zifa regulations.
Mutetwa said they have since launched an appeal with the Zifa Players Status Committee and were now waiting for communication from them for the determination of the case.
TelOne’s case was initially dismissed and they have since appealed.
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“We would like to appeal against the determination issued on the letter dated June 21, 2022 as we hereby do. We find the Premier Soccer League letter dated 16 June 2022, which was relied upon to dismiss our complaint, to be flawed and a misrepresentation of facts which are already in the public domain,” TelOne wrote.
“The player Tawana Alexander Chikore was registered with Caps United in February 2022 after signing a two-year deal. The registration was done during the initial registration period which closed on 31 March 2022. We still argue that the above mentioned player was a registered player for Caps United (as shown in the TMS documents) who went on to take part in competitive matches contrary to the letter by the Premier Soccer League. It is surprising that the Premier Soccer League on its 2022 website even reflect Tawana Alexander Chikore as a Caps United player, as already was in the public domain during the time (screenshot taken from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) 2022 -Annexure 1).
“Media reports show that Tawana Alexander Chikore played for Caps United FC against Whawha FC at the National Sports Stadium on March 06, 2022 in a game in which the player was replaced by Thulani Nyamapfeka on the 80th minute.
“In respect of the above here with attached Caps United FC team sheets showing that Tawana Alexander Chikore was a registered Caps United FC player where the later played with Whawha 6 March 2022 (National Sports Stadium); Manica Diamonds (Sakubva Stadium) (27/02/2022) as well as Black Rhinos (13/02/2022) copies attached.”
However, Sheasham Chairperson Reginald Chidawanyika dismissed TelOne assertions as “nonsense”.
“It’s nonsense. We simply followed the statutes on player transfer. I don’t understand the basis they claim he was an ineligible player. Their argument is completely misplaced. It has to do with the interpretation of the statutes on player movement. To suggest a player can not move and register with two different clubs in the same window period is too general. You will need to categorise the players. Chikore was a player out of contract, he had been released by Caps United, so I don’t understand the basis they are saying this,” he said.
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