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Charles Sibanda

CHARLES Sibanda is crying foul, claiming he was robbed in the race for the Golden Boot, which he says he won after scoring 13 goals. Sibanda is being backed by his club, Highlanders, who also insist that the forward scored 13 goals this season. The dreadlocked forward shared the Golden Boot award with How Mine’s Kuda Musharu after the Premier Soccer League said they scored 12 goals each.

If Sibanda’s claims are true, then it would be another embarrassment for the awards after they slipped into controversy when ZPC Kariba players — Dennis Dauda, Tendai Hove and Limited Chikafa — swept the board in the Soccer Stars of the Year awards.

There are some who also feel that ZPC Kariba gaffer Saul Chaminuka was not a worthy recipient of the Coach of the Year award.

Sibanda said he scored 13 goals and not 12 as recorded by the PSL.

The Bosso forward says he scored two hat-tricks against Buffaloes and Bantu Rovers, a brace over Black Rhinos, Triangle (home and away) and was on target once against FC Platinum (home and away) and Chiredzi.

Reports from Mutare said one of the goals that Buffaloes conceded was an own goal, after a shot fired by Sibanda deflected off a Buffaloes defender, but there are deflections that have been credited to the striker who fired the shot.

“I am a professional footballer and I would not cheat,” said Sibanda, one of the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalists for this season.

According to records at the Premier Soccer League, the two players scored 12 goals each.

Bosso and Sibanda are, however, disputing the statistics insisting the Entumbane-born star scored 13 goals.

Highlanders chief executive, Ndumiso Gumede, produced a document from the PSL that seemingly had errors.

Initial reports had indicated that the disputed goal was scored after Sibanda’s shot was directed past the goalkeeper by a Buffaloes defender.

This had seen the media all along insisting that it was an own goal but the latest revelations could leave both the PSL and sponsors with an egg on their faces.

“Our boy was cheated, records that they have produced to us have serious mistakes,” said Gumede.

When Chronicle Sport did its own check it established that Sibanda had indeed scored a brace against Black Rhinos in a game won 3-1 at Barbourfields.

League statistics indicate that he scored one goal.

Gumede expressed disappointment that the PSL awards ceremony was held last week before the issue was resolved.

“We highlighted the anomaly to PSL but no action was taken to correct the mistake and it was only after Peter Dube approached them directly that they sent us these records which have a lot of errors,” he said.

Gumede appealed to the PSL to rectify or apologise to Sibanda for the mistake they made.

Sibanda’s goals according to the PSL

21.04.14 – Chiredzi FC 0-3 Highlanders (Sibanda one goal, 81st min)

25.05.14 Buffaloes FC 1-3 Highlanders 3 (Sibanda hattrick – 17th, 57th, 64th mins)

08.06.14 Highlanders 1-1 FC Platinum (Sibanda one goal, 40th min)

15.06.14 Triangle United1-1 Highlanders 1 (Sibanda one goal, 10th min)

29.06.14 Highlanders FC 3-1 Black Rhinos 1 (Sibanda one goal, 81st min)

13.07.14 Highlanders 4-Bantu Rovers 3 (Sibanda hattrick – 14th, 31st, 46th mins)

21.08.14 Highlanders FC 1-0 Triangle United 1 (Sibanda one goal, 24th min)

24.08.14 FC Platinum 0-1 Highlanders 1 (Sibanda one goal, 3rd min)

The Herald’s Records

Week 3 – Chiredzi 0, Highlanders 3 – Zibande (26th min), Mahachi (74th min), SIBANDA (81st min)

Week 9 – Buffaloes 1, Highlanders 3 – SIBANDA (17th min), SIBANDA (54th min), Chandisaita (own goal)

Week 10 – Highlanders 1 – SIBANDA (40th min), FC Platinum 1

Week 11 – Triangle 1, Highlanders 1 (SIBANDA, penalty)

Week 13 – Highlanders 3 – SIBANDA (70th min), SIBANDA (80th min), Nyoni (59th min), Black Rhinos 1

Week 15 – Highlanders 4 – SIBANDA, penalty (12th min), SIBANDA (30th min), SIBANDA (44th min), Zibande (90th min), Bantu Rovers 3

Week 20 – Highlanders 1 – SIBANDA, Triangle 0

Week 21 – FC Platinum 0, Highlanders 1 – SIBANDA — Sports Reporter/Bulawayo Bureau