HIGHLANDERS FC will now be seeking the intervention of the Zifa Player Status Committee to expedite the case of winger Tapiwa Dephistara as it has emerged that Chiredzi FC have demanded a full amount for the player before issuing out his clearance.
FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER Dephistara signed a two-year contract with Bosso last month, but the deal fell through after Chiredzi claimed that the 21-year-old striker had been cleared by some executive members of the club led by fired coach-cum-director Moses Chunga.
Highlanders were advised to seek clearance for the player from the Charles Muchatukwa-led executive committee, but the Bulawayo giants’ chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday said after depositing $500 with the club for the clearance, Chiredzi have demanded an undisclosed full payment.
It appears it will be long before Dephistara dons the black and white jersey.
Gumede said they had since requested that Chiredzi reimburse them the $500 so they deposit the money with the players status committee for pursuance of the case. The Bosso boss says Highlanders did not err in getting clearance, signed by fired secretary George Dhliwayo.
“As we speak right now I am writing to Chiredzi’s secretary, one Reason Dube, asking them to pay us back our $500 so that we can deposit that money with the Zifa Players Status Committee. That is the route that we are now taking because they are now asking for the full payment before we get the clearance,” he said.
“We had made the $500 deposit and promised to pay the full amount in October, but they are now demanding that we pay in full.
“ In any case, we have always been convinced that we never erred when we got the first clearance. We are now going to the players’ status committee.”
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A few weeks ago, Premier Soccer League (PSL) chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said Highlanders had to get Dephistara’s clearance from Muchatukwa’s who is a PSL governor and the player would be registered.
However, Muchatukwa yesterday said Chiredzi didn’t want to stand in the player’s way, but it was Highlanders who had reneged on the agreed terms.
“It’s a simple matter. We agreed terms with Highlanders and we put up a price which I cannot disclose because there is so much interest in the matter. They offered a lower amount and we agreed.
They said they would pay by last week Wednesday,” he said.
“Last Friday, without any discussion with us, they paid $500, which is not even half of what we had agreed on. All we are saying is we want the player to play, but Highlanders should be gentleman enough and honour their part of the deal and get the clearance.
If they are going to the player status committee that is their option.”
New Bosso signings that have played since joining the club in mid-season are Pasca Manhanga — who joined from Triangle in mid-season and scored his first goal in the 1-0 win against Shabanie Mine in the Chibuku Super Cup first round on Sunday at Ascot Stadium — and young Kudzanai Machazane signed from Tsholotsho FC who came in for Njabulo Ncube in the second half.
