The “Boys in Blue” were thrashed 3-0 by MC Alger in Algeria last Sunday night amid controversy for the Algerian side to progress to the second round on the away goal rule after losing the first leg 4-1.
In a match made in hell, DeMbare’s Archford Gutu and Guthrie Zhokinyi were red-carded while eight other players received yellow cards. The club was due to file their protest with CAF, but a boob by the DeMbare executive and the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has cost them a chance to be heard by the CAF Disciplinary Board which meets in Johannesburg, South Africa before the end of this month.
According to Article 22 of the Champions League regulations “All protests are to be communicated to the General Secretariat of the Confederation within the 48 hours which follow the match by telegram or fax.
“A detailed confirmation by registered letter or fax message must reach CAF Secretariat five clear days at most after the end of the match, the postal stamp of Cairo post office will bear witness”.
The time frame, in which Dynamos were supposed to file their complaint, lapsed at midnight on Friday dealing a blow to Dynamos, who were united with the head of delegation and Zifa councillor Brian Chishanga in that the club was “robbed”.
