MUTARE City’s bid to survive relegation received a major blow after the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) yesterday deducted three points from the team for using an ineligible player.
BY HENRY MHARA
The club used a suspended player, Kudakwashe Gurure, during a match against log leaders FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium on August 13.
Gurure had accumulated three yellow cards prior to the match, automatically ruling him out of the trip to Mandava. However, the former Gutu FC striker went on to feature in the match, which ended 1-1, contravening Order 33.4 of the PSL’s rules and regulations which states that “where a player has accumulated three yellow cards he shall automatically be suspended for one official match, such suspension should be applicable on the next official match.”
In addition, the club has also been fined a sum of $1,250.00 (One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars) which must be paid by 10 September 2016.
“This is in line with the PSL Rules and Regulations Order 36.1.4 which state that the use of an unregistered/ineligible player three points will be deducted and thrown away and a fine as set by the League from time to time,” read a statement from the PSL.
FC Platinum keep their one point from the match.
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The development will come as a huge blow to Mutare City in their fight for survival as they have been left with 17 points, although they keep their 14th position on the log standings, four clear of the teams in the relegation zone.
The Taku Shariwa-coached side, who are in a six match unbeaten run, will be looking to recover the lost points when they face off with Caps United at the National Sports Stadium today.
The two teams are going into the match on the back of contrasting fortunes from the previous weekend where City collected maximum points after beating Hwange while Caps were shocked 3-1 by Bulawayo City.
The home side is going through a difficult time that culminated in the disappointing loss in Bulawayo. Prior to that, they had posted two goalless draws against FC Platinum and Hwange, a run that has left their title ambitions in tatters.
They are now five behind of their main challengers FC Platinum with 10 matches remaining to the season.
Good news in their camp ahead of the match is the return to full fitness of winger Tafadzwa Rusike who has been down with a groin problem for sometime now.
Attacking midfilder Abbas Amidu, who has been globetrotting on trials, is also back and trained with the squad this week, and should be available for selection.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures Today: CAPS United v Mutare City (National Sports Stadium), Chapungu United v Border Strikers (Ascot), FC Platinum v Chicken Inn (Mandava), Tsholotsho v ZPC Kariba (Luveve).
Tomorrow: Highlanders v How Mine (Barbourfields), Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery), Ngezi Platinum v Dynamos (Baobab)
