Zim Now Writer
The Zimbabwe Football Association’s Appeals Committee has once again failed to meet its promised deadline for the verdict in the highly anticipated Bikita-Tenax case. This delay has thrown the Eastern Region football scene into disarray, with the 2024 Eastern Region Division One league fixtures put on hold.
Following the last hearing on Saturday, Zifa promised a verdict on Wednesday, but information remains scarce, leaving both teams and fans frustrated. This is the second missed deadline for the committee, heightening concerns about transparency and efficiency.
The dispute centres around the 2023 Eastern Region Super League championship. Initially, Tenax, nicknamed Chauya Chikara, were declared champions after topping the league. However, Bikita Minerals successfully appealed to Zifa ERSL the following week, earning three points from a disputed match against Grayham, who allegedly fielded an ineligible player. This decision saw Bikita crowned champions and promoted instead of Tenax.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Tenax took the case to Zifa’s national level in January. In response, Zifa intervened, nullifying Bikita’s promotion and claiming jurisdiction over the case.
The continued delay in the verdict has significant downstream consequences. The Eastern Region Division One league, scheduled to release their 2024 fixtures on February 24th, has been forced to postpone the announcement due to the unresolved promotion issue between Tenax and Bikita.
With the verdict still pending, the Eastern Region football scene faces an uncertain future. Both teams and fans are left waiting, and the Eastern Region Division One league is unable to finalise its fixtures, hindering preparations for the upcoming season. The situation underscores the need for Zifa to prioritise transparency and deliver timely resolutions to maintain order and ensure fairness within the footballing community.
Philemon JambayaZim Now EditorThe notion that football is a social activity has kept Zimbabwe lagging behind the rest of the serious football world. Football is the pinnacle of global sporting busin..
ZimbabwePhilemon JambayaZim Now EditorThe recent decision by the Zimbabwe Football Association Normalisation Committee to deny resources to the Under 17 girls team has sparked widespread disappointment and ..
ZimbabweZimNow WriterPresident Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended the term of General Phillip Valerio Sibanda as Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces by a year, despite Sibanda reaching retirement age.This..
Zimbabwe
Leave Comments