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HIGHLANDERS chief executive Ndumiso Gumede has likened Dynamos midfielder Masimba Mambare to a mercenary after the player took the Bulawayo giants for arbitration over his outstanding signing-on fees. Mambare, who joined DeMbare at the start of the season, claims that he is owed the bulk of his US$10 000 signing-on fees for the two years he spent at Bosso.

Efforts by the midfielder to get his dues have been unsuccessful and he has now enlisted the services of the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe.
FUZ secretary-general Paul Gundani said Bosso had initially agreed to make a payment plan to Mambare, but were now shifting positions and claiming they were no longer in a position to pay.

Now the matter will be going for arbitration. But Gumede is furious with the attitude being shown by Mambare and FUZ.
“The matter is now going for arbitration and I have papers that have been served to us by FUZ. We have to look at how best we can handle this issue, but the bottom line is that the club does not have money,” said Gumede.

“Some of the sentiments that these players are like mercenaries could be true after all. It’s lending credence to that now.
“The same player, Mambare, had a debt of US$2 000 that he owed Motor Action when he joined us. It was his own debt and he asked Highlanders to help him settle the debt.

“We did that, but he cannot appreciate that and he goes on to approach FUZ to demand what he is owed.”
Gumede said the team’s poor performance in the second half of the season and their relocation from Barbourfields affected their cash flow.

“We do not have that money and it got worse when we moved from BF to Hartsfield. We could get more fans at Barbourfields and we lost out on the gate takings at the smaller venue,” said Gumede. Then the second half of our season was a disaster and few fans wanted to come,” said Gumede.

“The Region Five Games will be over and next year we should be back at our home. I just pray that our fans will forgive us for this second half and we should be better come next season.”

Gundani said FUZ were also representing Bruce Tshuma, Heritani Masuku and Mark Anthony Ndlovu, who are also owed by Bosso.
“It’s not only Masimba who needs to recover his money, but we have quite a number of cases that need arbitration.

“For Mambare, Highlanders made a payment plan, but then never honoured the debt. Now they are saying they cannot pay the amount because of the timeframe since the player has moved away.

“Tshuma is also owed, while Masuku needs his US$6 000 and a residential stand. Then there is a junior player who signed a five-year contract in 2012 and was supposed to get US$500 and then US$50 monthly,” said Gundani. — Sportszone.