THE Eastern Region Division One Soccer League (ERSL) promotion saga is threatening to delay the start of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League programme after Tenax yesterday announced that they had successfully lodged an appeal with the Zifa Appeals Committee, putting on hold Bikita Minerals' promotion into the top flight league.
Bikita Minerals were confirmed last season's ERSL champions via a boardroom decision after the club won a case involving their final league game against Grayham, from which they were awarded three points after the latter used an ineligible player.
With the three points, the Bikita-based side was confirmed ERSL champions which moved them ahead of Tenax who had finished top of the log standings.
Tenax, curiously, did not appeal the ERSL decision, but instead took the matter directly to Zifa, who referred it to its Appeals Committee, thereby automatically putting Bikita Minerals' Premier League promotion on hold.
The lithium miners were subsequently barred from attending the Premier Soccer League 2024 preparatory and induction workshop in Bulawayo last week where all other topflight teams attended to set the ground rules ahead of the start of the new season set for February 24.
Tenax yesterday announced that they had appeared to the Zifa Appeals Committee, setting the stage for a gruelling legal battle between the two teams.
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“Tenax FC has successfully appeared before the Zifa Appeals Committee on a matter which we raised against the ERSL's decision to promote Bikita FC following a boardroom decision that overturns the final log standing where Tenax FC emerged the 2023 ERSL champions. We submitted our head of arguments to the Appeals' Committee, as well as ERSL as the respondents and Bikita FC who were also present. The respondents were given time to respond and the Appeal will resume on February 16 for full hearing.”
With the full hearing set for February 16, this could cause chaos to the start of the Premier League season set to kickoff a week later.
This week, PSL confirmed that the season opening Castle Challenge Cup between league champions Ngezi Platinum Stars and Dyanamos will be held on February 16 at Baobab Stadium before the league kicks off a week later.
Tenax's appeal could, consequently, delay the release of fixtures and confirmation of venues for the Premier League.
Questions have, however, been asked why the Zifa Appeals Committee decided to entertain Tenax who had not exhausted all the other lower judicial bodies.
In fact, Tenax was not an initial complainant in the case. It was Grayham who lodged a formal complaint with the ERSL, and lost. Grayham did not appeal the decision.
The ERSL are not happy with Zifa's intervention and the association's sudden interest in the matter.
“The league has no case against Tenax and that a case cannot just start to be heard by a higher committee before being heard by the league’s disciplinary committee, such actions being a violation of our statutes,’’ wrote ERSL's administrator Fungai Munyoro to Zifa last week.
“Tenax is an affiliate of ERSL; if they had a case, they should have sought recourse with the league, if ever there was a case.
“May I also refer you to the rules and regulations which state that a protesting club should submit their protest accompanied by a protest fee as prescribed by the standing orders ... The league feels that you are setting a dangerous precedence in the history of football by referring a case direct to the Appeals Committee before it is heard by the league’s disciplinary committee, provided there is indeed a case.”
He also said the league was surprised by the sudden Zifa U-turn, especially after recently writing to Tenax informing them that the decision taken in a case between Grayham vs Bikita Minerals was above board.
In an interview with the media last week, Normalisation Committee member Sikhumbuzo Ndebele also appeared to confirm Bikita Minerals as the Eastern Region champions.
“Whatever happened in the way Eastern Region handled that case was above board," Ndebele said.