The Northern Region Premier Soccer League (NRSL) on Friday crowned Scottland FC after the Mabvuku-based side beat Black Mambas 3-1 to take their points tally to 87.
The crowning moment for the deep-pocketed side came despite three of its points being in dispute after Karoi United appealed to Zifa against a disciplinary committee hearing to award maximum points to Scottland from the abandoned match last month.
The disciplinary committee last week found Karoi United guilty of causing the abandonment of their match against Scottland after failing to control their fans, where one allegedly pelted referee Mathew Dingo with “missiles” causing injuries to the groin and shin.
Karoi were fined US$2 000 of which US$500 was suspended on condition that the team will not commit a similar offence next season.
The suspended amount will be added to any determination where Karoi are found guilty of bringing the game of football into disrepute, according to a statement by the league.
Unhappy with the ruling, Karoi appealed to Zifa arguing that the abandoned match should have been declareda draw, although the rules state that any team that is found guilty of causing the abandonement of a match will be fined and the points awarded to the away team on a 3-0 scoreline.
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The effect of Karoi’s appeal means that it suspended the disciplinary committee ruling thereby withdrawing the three points that had been awarded to Scottland.
The net effect of that is that the Mabvuku-based side should not have been crowned champions pending the determination by the Zifa Appeals Committee.
It was lost on the Martin Kweza-led NRSL that as things stand, there are no champions until Thursday’s hearing.
Meanwhile the “victors” have been in a celebratory mood for being promoted to the topflight with congratulatory messages pouring in. Some of the organisations that congratulated the Mabvuku-based side are Bulawayo giants Highlanders, Betterbrands, Prevail Group, Discovery Ambulance Services and Young Women4ED.
Scottland’s founder Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya is on cloud nine and on Saturday “paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa with the trophy”.
In a statement posted on Scottland’s X account, the club said: “Scottland president Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya today paid a courtesy visit to President ED Mnangagwa following our success in the @Division1Soccer yesterday. We thank President Mnangagwa (@edmnangagwa) for receiving Scottland president Scott, who is also the MP for Mabvuku-Tafara (and known for) promoting a drug-free society in the constituency and beyond.”
To neutrals, this was an honest courtesy call by someone who wanted to show the party’s leader the fruits of one’s hard work.
For critics, however, the visit is a show of force and a timely reminder of one’s clout ahead of a Zifa hearing.
What will happen if the Zifa Appeals Committee rules otherwise? Where were the NRSL executive rushing to such that they could not wait for the Zifa determination?
NRSL, once the darling for corporates for its astute management, finds itself in this mess because the executive jumped the gun.
The NRSL house is on fire and the spotlight is on the executive.
The net effect of the NRSL decision is to reduce the Zifa hearing to a delayed match.
Football is on trial hence the ball is in Zifa’s court to adjudicate the matter without fear or favour.