Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
FOOTBALLERS Union of Zimbabwe have come out with guns blazing following statement by Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa labelling defender Gift Bello a rebel.
FUZ secretary-general Paul Gundani yesterday condemned Mubaiwa’s rant after the Harare businessman expressed his irritation on Wednesday afternoon at the club’s Luncheon at East24 while reacting to the decision by the defender to leave negotiations for a contract extension with the Harare giants hanging and join rivals FC Platinum.
However, Gundani said his organisation, which represents the interest of players, viewed the statement as a threat to the footballer and an unfair way to silence players who may have similar issues with the club.

Gundani said Bello had every right to make a decision that he saw fit to further his career and also that protected his interests as a family man following the expiry of his contract at Dynamos in December.

“Our position as FUZ is that if Mubaiwa indeed labelled the player a ‘rebel’ it’s very unfortunate. As the players’ union we don’t expect a senior official of his stature to utter such a word in describing a player,” said Gundani.

“For starters, Bello’s contract with Dynamos expired in December and during the time of his contract he played extremely well for Dynamos, indicating his commitment to the club.

“It’s also worth noting that at the time of the expiry of the contract the club was owing him part of his signing-on fees which they held back and he never complained.
“He even continued training with Dynamos, which was a testimony to his commitment and dedication. He could have incurred a career-threatening injury but he still continued to expose himself to that danger without a contract.

“Now we are shocked when we hear the club chairman saying this young man is a rebel, yet he trained with the club for a full month without a signed contract.
“Football statutes allow clubs to negotiate contracts six months before they expire and Dynamos failed to utilise that opportunity.”
Gundani said it was always players, and not officials, who were wrong.

“The most disappointing thing in such cases is that it is the players who are always accused even when they are innocent.
“As FUZ we felt that we had to respond on behalf of the player so that the man on the streets understands that he player had every right to choose what he wants to do with his career.

“We had a case in point where Highlanders lost Masimba Mambare when it appeared they had agreed with the player to renew his contract but we never heard a statement from the club castigating the player.

“Clubs should always learn to accept that players move and should actually support them when they wish to develop their careers elsewhere,” said Gundani.

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