DODGY DEALINGS: Ernest Sibanda • Monomotapa in turmoil as Mapeza quits • Saints, Njube Sundowns merger off • Relegated CAPS FC take-over Shooting Stars franchise • Charity Shield teams increased to four • Eagles promoted to premiership, Lancashire relegated • Eagles fly high as Lancashire stall • Chitembwe new CAPS United coach • PSL play-offs enter critical stage • Madinda Ndlovu unveiled as Highlanders coach • Lancashire lead play-offs mini-league • Chikwaikwai named Soccer Star of the Year • CAPS United survive, Monomotapa claim their prize • Monmomotapa clinch premiership title • Dynamos slash Monomotapa's lead with emphatic win • Monomotapa, Dynamos set up tantalising season finale • Monomotapa get in mood for big party • 2008 Premier Soccer League Fixtures

Posted to the web: 26/01/2009 15:16:45
OUTGOING Highlanders chairman Ernest Sibanda was roasted by the team’s supporters on Sunday before being given a week to pay US$3,450 he owes the club.

Sparks flew at the club’s Annual General Meeting over the sale of striker Obadiah Tarumbwa to Cercle Brugge of Belgium.

There were rumours prior to the meeting that Sibanda had converted part of the US$65,000 for which the player was sold for to his own use.

The Belgian club paid US$40,000 upfront, with the remaining balance coming in drips and drabs, the club’s supporters heard.

The supporters exploded in fury when treasurer Odiel Mandla Nkomo said the balance of US$20,000 was “subject to debate”.

Cornered, Sibanda made a commitment to pay back the money by February 1— the date of the club’s executive elections. He is not seeking re-election.

Explained Sibanda: “They (Cercle Brugge) paid us US$40 000 and it came through the Reserve Bank. At the end of the day, the club (Highlanders) got US$25,000 because the bank had deducted 35 percent. Obadiah got his 10 percent and the other money went to the agent who facilitated the deal.”

The agent was not named but it is firmly believed that former Highlanders coach Methembe Ndlovu was behind the deal, which also saw him take Vusa Nyoni and Honour Gombami to the same Belgian team.

Highlanders is already reeling from a lawsuit filed by the son of Zimbabwe Defence Industries boss Colonel Tshinga Dube who is demanding that the club repays a US$26,692 loan he extended to them last year.

Vusumuzi Dube and his father, both keen Highlanders supporters, came to the rescue of the Bulawayo club last year during its CAF Confederations Cup campaign.

Nkomo told the AGM that Dube had now given the club up to March 31 to fully settle the debt. The treasurer said US$8,000 could be raised from the sale or replicas, purchased from China, which was also subject to an inquiry from club members.

The club holds executive elections on February 1. The following is the list of confirmed candidates for three contested positions:

Chairman: Themba Ndlela, Mandlenkosi Moyo

Secretary: Andrew Tapela, Horace Ndubiwa, Charles Moyo

Committee Member: Jotam Ndiweni, Sikhanyiso Moyo, Dumisani Mabhena, Ellington Nsingo, Cleopas Ngano, Wisdom Mabhena

2008 Premier Soccer League Play-Offs:

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
P - Eagles	5	4	1	0	12	5	13
Lancashire Steel	4	2	1	1	12	7	7
Shabanie Mine	4	2	0	2	6	9	6
Mwana Africa	5	0	0	5	4	14	0

2008 CBZ Premier Soccer League Top Goal Scorers:

23 GOALS: Evans Chikwaikwai (Njube Sundowns)
16 GOALS: Cuthberth Malajila (Highlanders)
15 GOALS: Edward Sadomba (Dynamos)
11 GOALS: Charles Chiutsa (Monomotapa)
9 GOALS: Douglas Zimbago (Highlanders)
8 GOALS: Daniel Zokoto (Monomotapa)
8 GOALS: Phillip Makanje (Lancashire Steel)
8 GOALS: Norman Maroto (Dynamos)
7 GOALS: Makai Kawashu (Monomotapa)
7 GOALS: Tendai Nyamadzawo (Lengthens)

2008 CBZ Premier Soccer League Final Standings:

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
1	C - Monomotapa	30	18	6	6	41	28	60
2	Dynamos	30	16	10	4	41	25	58
3	Njube Sundowns	30	15	3	12	42	36	48
4	Shooting Stars	30	12	8	10	37	26	44
5	Lengthens	30	11	8	11	37	41	41
6	Gunners	30	10	10	10	42	39	40
7	Highlanders	30	9	15	6	34	25	39
8	Kiglon	30	9	12	9	31	32	39
9	Underhill	30	9	11	10	38	44	38
10	Eastern Lions	30	9	11	10	24	27	38
11	Motor Action	30	11	4	15	32	42	37
12	CAPS United	30	8	12	10	35	32	36
13	P/O - Lancashire	30	10	6	14	37	45	36
14	R - Chapungu	30	9	7	14	31	32	34
15	R - Masvingo United	30	8	9	13	34	49	33
16*	R - CAPS FC	29	5	10	15	29	40	25
* Docked 3 points for using suspended player v Motor Action

JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
sports@newzimbabwe.com