Must read:Highlanders FC at the centre of a transfer scandal
Highlanders football club has come under fire from various stakeholders in the sports fraternity following allegations that the club failed to pay for the transfer of Tapiwa Kapini to Platinum Stars. It has been alleged that the club entered into a contractual agreement with Zimbabwe Crackers, a team which Kapini used to play for that they would pay 30% of proceeds from his transfer to another club. This agreement was entered into in 2001. When Kapini was eventually sold to South African side Platinum Stars, it is alleged that Highlanders waylaid Zimbabwe crackers and did not release a single cent. The agreement had been signed and confirmed by the then Highlanders secretary general Kenny Ndebele who is currently the PSL Chief executive officer.
Zimbabwe crackers club director, Justice Nyamutsamba has since opened a can of worms about how the Bulawayo based team simply made the transfer and swept the matter under the carpet without honouring their contractual obligations. Several letters and correspondence between the two sides have also been released including letters of undertaking by Highlanders and Zifa to resolve the matter. Nyamutsamba claims that nothing was done to solve the issue in spite of various assurances by the ZIFA board as well as Highlanders to ensure that the agreed 600 000 dollars that was supposed to be put in the coffers of Zimbabwe crackers was done.
Major players in the football fraternity including players, coaches and sports journalists have frowned upon the behaviour of Highlanders football club personnel in failing to give what is due to Zimbabwe Crackers. The issue has served as an eye opener to the dodgy dealings and underhand tactics that clubs employ at times when issues of money come into play. ZIFA has also been scorned for failing to make any progress in the matter as the governing football mother body in the country.
Zimbabwe Crackers have been claiming the transfer fees since 2006 to no avail. They even approached ZIFA at the time of the transfer but alas they got a raw deal.
