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Oscar Rusenga in CHIREDZI
MOSES Chunga has quit Chiredzi FC just months after he spearheaded a spirited boardroom battle to enable the team to play in the Premiership.
Chunga quit as head coach after a marathon meeting, which lasted more than five hours, in which the allegations that he took US$4 000 from the club were discussed.The meeting was attended by Zifa Eastern Region executive members and Chiredzi FC leaders with the players represented by captain Fidelis Mangezi and Brighton Pamhirwa.

Chunga was clearly frustrated with the proceedings and, at one point, left the meeting.

When he returned, after more than half an hour, he lashed out at the executive, labelling them “cowards”.

Chunga said when the team was disbanded nobody took action but he took matters into his own hands facing the company’s leadership to give the franchise to the community.

“I went to talk to Tongaat myself when it seemed there was never going to be a football team here in Chiredzi,” said Chunga. “I picked the guys to represent us (the management) and those are the same guys who are claiming that they are now employing me.

“I have never received anything from them and I am the one who signed each and every player but now they cannot even admit that my influence helped the team to be running up to now.

“All they are doing is trying to tarnish my image in a bid to push me outside the ship. Just imagine travelling to an away game in Bulawayo all the way from Chiredzi with only US$50 for 18 players plus technical team and still believe that we got an executive that really cares?”

The players, through their captain, said the executive had let them down by failing to raise funds for their salaries.

The squabbles started after their home tie against Dynamos when Chunga collected US$4 000 raised from the gate takings.

Chunga said he took the money to share it among his players since they had not received anything in the past six months.

He even tried to get more money realised from the Chiredzi-Hwange match to help his players but was stopped after the club leadership engaged the police.

The money was taken to Chiredzi Police. Chiredzi FC chairman Charles Muchatukwa refused to comment stating that a full statement will be released today.