Zimbabwe: ZTA Still to Pay Soccer Stars

Taddy Manyepo and Kevin Mapasure

11 March 2011

THE 2010 Premier Soccer League (PSL) soccer stars of the year are still to receive their prize money from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) more than a month after the awards banquet.

The banquet, initially scheduled for December, was eventually held in January as the organisers hunted for financial support to hold the function. The corporate world was shunning the event over controversies in the selection process.

Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda was promised US$3 000 by ZTA chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke on the night, while his first and second runner-ups Joel Ngodzo and Benjamin Marere are still awaiting their promised US$ 2000 and US$ 1000 respectively.

The other eight finalists were promised US$ 500 each, with all 11 set for a holiday at Great Zimbabwe monuments.

However since the day the promises were made in front of guest of honour, Zambian soccer legend Kalusha Bwalya, the players have neither heard from ZTA nor the Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe (Swaz), the custodians of the event.

ZTA spokesman Sugar Chagonda – who was also present at the event – confirmed that they were yet to pay the players saying that his organisation was awaiting communication from Swaz.

“We are supposed to meet Swaz to arrange a date that we can hand over the money to the players,” said Chagonda. “We will wait for Swaz to advise us on the next step; it is their event so we follow what they say.”

ZTA came on board at the last minute to save a potentially embarrassing scenario after Kalusha Bwalya had confirmed his presence at the banquet yet there was no money to bankroll the event.

Some of the players told IndependentSport that they were fast losing any hope of getting the money as there has been no communication.

“I have lost hope of getting that money after all the problems prior to the event and now they (ZTA) are just quiet,” said one player who requested anonymity. “Maybe it was just a public relations thing; maybe the event shouldn’t have been held in the first place.”

The players had been particularly looking forward to the prize money after a difficult year where the Premiership went unsponsored and most clubs were financially troubled.

The other players awaiting the cash reward are Norman Maroto, Alan Gahadzikwa, Beki Ncube, Fortune Ncube, Desmond Maringwa, Nyasha Mukumbi, Menard Mupera and Edmore Sibanda.

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