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Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
WHOEVER coined the phrase, “it never rains, but pours,” might have had the likes of Chiredzi FC in mind. After being relegated from the Castle Lager Premiership last week following the awarding of three points over their abandoned match to Chapungu, the Lowveld side have been ordered to pay US$1 200 by the PSL.

The club had been slapped with the fine over the statements made by their motor-mouthed coach Gishon Ntini on August 10, that the PSL was deliberately trying to destablise Chiredzi’s stay in the elite league.

A PSL disciplinary committee led by Don Moyo, Vusi Vuma and Doreen Gapare met last month and found Ntini guilty of Contravening Order 31 of the Castle Lager PSL Rules and Regulations.

Part of the Order reads that it is an offence if a player, official of club or the league “behaves in a manner, which brings the league, or any of its sponsors, into disrepute or endangers the welfare of the League.”

Allegations against Ntini came over media statements cited in the H-Metro and Zimbabwe Mail, where he is quoted, accusing the PSL competitions director Elisha Mandireva as one of the people being used by Moses Chunga to frustrate him (Ntini) at Chiredzi.

“It’s unfortunate that I am witnessing such things just because I am in Harare. These guys have been sitting on the bench since day one and this is shocking,” said Ntini.

“Ivava vekuPSL ana Mandireva vane vanovatuma. Kana wandakatorera basa (Chunga) ndoozvaanogona kuita. “Moses Chunga was here from January with the same technical team that is assisting me here and it’s only myself who was not there. If they were to bar me it would have been better but to take the entire technical team which was here before is unfair, it’s unheard of.

“It means they are protecting someone and obviously that is (Moses) Chunga.”

Because of the inflammatory statements, Chiredzi were fined to pay US$1 200 and ordered to take disciplinary action against Ntini.

“If no action is taken by the club, within 14 days, the initial fine will be doubled. The fine, together with the cost of the hearing, to be paid by the October 31 2014,” read part of the judgment.

In his defence, Ntini had distanced himself from the statements and pointed to bad blood between him and the journalist from the tabloid. The Disciplinary Committee felt that Ntini’s “alleged utterances were unsporting and brought the game into disrepute.”

Chiredzi will be playing in Division One next season as they will finish the season among the bottom four teams, even if they win all their five league matches.