BOB 90: Stolen cash mars Mugabe tourney

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has set tough conditions for organisers of the Bob 90 soccer tournament by demanding that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) pay upfront the normal hire charge of $2 211,45 and a refundable deposit of $960 for the use of Barbourfields Stadium.

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has set tough conditions for organisers of the Bob 90 soccer tournament by demanding that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) pay upfront the normal hire charge of $2 211,45 and a refundable deposit of $960 for the use of Barbourfields Stadium.

STAFF REPORTER

A full council meeting adopted the proposals at the City Hall yesterday evening.

The Bob 90 tourney would be held as part of events to celebrate President Robert Mugabe’s 90th birthday this month.

Organisers of the Bob 90 tournament announced that the semi-final pitting Bulawayo giants Highlanders and Harare City would be held at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday February 16. But the local authority said due to the deplorable manner in which the tournament was handled in 2013, council had decided to effect these changes.

According to minutes that were discussed at a full council meeting at the City Hall, BCC director of Housing and Community Services Isaiah Magagula detailed in a report that the booking of Barbourfields Stadium for this tourney had historically been mired in controversy.

The report indicated that the 20% cash takings of $9 593,79 due to BCC from the hosting of the first leg of the 2013 final were taken away from council staff by the tournament’s organisers saying the local authority was not entitled to any gate takings.

“This they said because they had made submissions to council requesting for free use of the stadium and council responded late in the process turning down their request.

“To date, that money has not been recovered despite engaging the police,” Magagula’s report read.

“On that score, it would be prudent for council to remind the tournament organisers and the conveners, the PSL, of last year’s incident.

“The apparent disregard of council’s rules and regulations and display of arrogance on the part of the organisers was uncalled for.

“The fact that follow-ups through police involvement had up to now yielded no positive results was also of concern here.

“In view of this, it was agreed that an upfront payment plus refundable deposit be provided by the applicants.”

Magagula’s report proposed that council demands that the PSL, as the custodians of soccer matches in the country, be the guarantors of the match, the proceeds from the match as well as council’s share.

“However, for such highly emotive and political matches, it would be prudent for council to request the PSL to pay upfront the normal hire charge of $2 211,45 per day for soccer matches,” the report says.

“Secondly there would be need for the organisers to pay a deposit of $960 against damages that might result from the match.

“Such deposits would be refunded if no damages were encountered after the match.

“In the previous year’s match, council staff had encountered difficulties in demanding council’s share of the proceeds in the form of 20% that was taken after cash counting at the end of the match.

“Council’s staff had to be assisted by the senior security officer, but still the money has not been given to council to date. The PSL had said they too had no powers since the money was forcibly taken in front of the police,” the report added.