The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER the delay in paying its affiliation fees, Tenax FC says it has emerged stronger and is ready to face the 2020 Castle Lager Premiership season.
The Mutare-based Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services side was facing a $208 000 bill they had to foot for them to be accepted in the PSL family of clubs.
It was a true test of their financial clout that also saw them facing a $94 000 bill for player registration, all in a space of less than a month.
That the world is currently motionless owing to the Covid-19 global lockdown did not deter the powers that be from demanding their dues. At one time, the league management announced the expulsion of Tenax FC, together with their Midlands-based sister club, Whawha FC, from the league.
But finally, the Tenax FC family can now at least afford a decent sleep after paying up.
Thus Tenax FC executive member-in-charge of the technical department, Lloyd Chinawa said, “We believe the storm is over. It was a difficult month for us, not because we did not expect it or we did not know what we were getting into, but because of the prevailing macro-economic situation. If big clubs are feeling the pinch, what more for us, a newly promoted outfit that is adjusting to the demands of top-flight league football?”
Chauya Chikara, as Tenax FC supporters prefer to call the team, was a subject of media onslaught for failing to raise affiliation fees and player registration fees.
But Chinawa confirmed that they managed to pull through and register their players.
Just like all the other members of the 2020 Castle Lager Premiership clubs, Chinawa said Tenax now awaits the start of the season.
He said they are still hopeful that their new acquisitions, who could not make it on registration deadline owing to logistical challenges, will be given a chance to register after the Covid-19 lockdown.
“We have registered 25 players, including five juniors. We failed to register Panashe Mutasa, Prince Kashiri, Tatenda Kuretu and Ishmael Nyanhi before the deadline.
“It was not really a case of inefficiency on our part as the executive. Panashe and Kashiri joined us two weeks before the closure of the registration window and we asked for their clearance after our technical guys were impressed by them,” he said
“They referred me to Aces Academy and I personally called Aces Academy director and he sent their clearances four days before the closing date,” he said.
“We were now on lockdown and when our admin tried to register these guys, he discovered that Panashe was supposed to be cleared by Dynamos, while Kashiri was supposed to be cleared by Chicken Inn.
“I phoned DeMbare executive members and they cleared him on the system, the same with Chicken Inn. However, we faced challenge as the two clubs’ executives could not go to their offices because of the lockdown.
“I phoned Zifa and PSL explaining to them the challenges we were facing. Dynamos’ chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze, came to our rescue and facilitated Panashe’s clearance, but it was already after the registration deadline,” he said.
On their preferred home ground when the season finally gets underway, Chinawa said, “No doubt, all things being equal we will use Sakubva Stadium as our home ground. That is our first choice. PSL demands that a club submits two match venues in case the other is not suitable for any reason, hence Vengere Stadium in Rusape comes in as an alternative. We have already secured the blessings of both Mutare City Council and Rusape Town Council to that effect.”
