PSL clubs owe referees association a fortune

Sport
BY BRIAN NKIWANEThe Zimbabwe Soccer Referees Association (ZSRA)  is owed thousands of dollars by some premiership clubs as the season comes to an end today.

Five premiership clubs have not paid the association, which is been stung by allegations of receiving bribes. Batsirai Muchenje, the ZSRA secretary general said the association members are owed close to US$8 000 by PSL clubs.

“We have been having problems with clubs like Gunners, Shooting Stars, Kiglon, Zimbabwe Saints and Motor Action. These clubs have been giving us problems in paying our match officials,” Muchenje said.

“We can understand that most premiership club rely on gate takings but these clubs have no sound support base and that is why we ended up ordering our members to carry on doing duty.

“We then made an arrangement with PSL who pay us and then they will later get their money from the respective clubs. As I speak, PSL paid us US$6 000 four weeks ago and PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele promised that the remaining US$8 000 is going to be paid in two weeks’ time.”

Muchenje added that the problem started at the beginning of the 2011 soccer season as they went for seven games without being paid.

“The problem is the fees we charge were agreed between us and the clubs. The centre man is supposed to get US$120 with the assistant referees getting US$100 each. The match commissioner is entitled to US$120 while the fourth official gets US$100. This then means that the entire match fees are US$540.” Muchenje said.