Chipangano last week severed ties with captain Gerald Ndlovu, veteran goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda, Andrew Tshuma, David Boriwondo, Gilbert Zulu and central defender Obert Moyo for inciting a training session boycott in protest over outstanding allowances.
But on Sunday last week, Boriwondo, Sibanda and Zulu successfully appealed against their expulsion and were retained while the other three’s bid to be reinstated hit a snag. The three were left out of the squad that set a training camp in Dete and were also not part of the team that left for South Africa on Friday to take part in warm up games against former African champions Orlando Pirates and Platinum Stars.
Coach Tennant Chilumba said he travelled to South Africa with 23 players but declined to comment on the axing of the three players.
“I am taking 23 players with me to South Africa. I cannot comment on the fired players issue but you can talk to somebody in the club executive,” said Chilumba.
Repeated efforts to get comment from club spokesperson Burzil Dube and chairman Joseph Zulu were in vain as their mobile phones were unreachable.
Highly-placed sources at the club told Standardsport that the players were regarded as a rebellious after they allegedly started demanding proceeds of the prize money the club received for finishing on fourth place last season.