Zimpapers Logo

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
FORMER Premiership side Monomotapa are once again on a collision course with some of their players who are accusing the club of stifling their potential moves to other Castle Lager Premiership teams this season.
Two weeks ago, midfielder Russell Madamombe’s cause was brought to the fore as the player pleaded to be cleared to continue featuring for Dynamos.

Madamombe’s chances of playing Champions League football with Dynamos were derailed because of the stand-off between Monoz and the player.

Yesterday another player — defender Hillary Mugoniwa — was crying foul over the manner in which Monoz who were relegated into Division One at the end of last season, were allegedly treating him.

Mugoniwa has all but secured a move to Triangle but the left-back has been struggling to secure a clearance from Monomotapa with whom he still has a valid contract.

The defender does not want to play Division One football, but he also fears that  his career could be in limbo because Monomotapa “are not being sensitive to his needs’’.

Mugoniwa’s manager Million Makumaire said the player has almost secured a deal with Triangle where he is hoping to link up with his former coach Biggie Zuze but Monoz where reluctant to clear the player.

“I personally took the player from FC Victoria of Masvingo in 2009 and he joined Eagles. When Eagles faced problems we then looked for another platform for the players and that’s how he joined Monomotapa.

“At first he joined them on a loan and later he signed a contract that is ending in December 2014. However, Monomotapa faced challenges and have not been able pay the players any salaries or wages since last year.

“We know that clubs face financial challenges but they should take a cue from Eagles, and allow the players to continue with their careers. Monomotapa paid very little to get the player but now they want to benefit more from Triangle,” said Makumaire.

Makumaire said he has been helping Mugoniwa to pay his rentals and has been trying to engage Monoz to terminate the contract on the basis that they have already breached its conditions.

Mugoniwa said he had approached the Football Union of Zimbabwe in the hope of getting termination of his contract from Monoz before the clubs finalise their lists for this season.

“Most of the clubs are finalising on their wish-lists and Triangle are keen on me but they might decide otherwise if I am not cleared soon.

“My plea is to get clearance and we sort out the other issues later. Monoz owe me in salaries but I need to move on with my career,” said Mugoniwa.

FUZ have also been pushing for Zifa to give the players who were at Monomotapa the green light to join other teams and a determination is set to be made by the end of this week.

Monomotapa chairman Joseph Mukoki has since said his club is aware that they owe their players salaries but insisted that “it does not erase the fact that the players still have running contracts with the team’’. Mukoki argued that Monoz were acting within their rights to make their demands to whichever club is willing to get their players, while at the same time the players can also claim what they are owed by the struggling club.

Besides the Mugoniwa and Madamombe cases, five other players are facing the same predicament over clearances with the 2008 Premiership champions.