The ManicaPost
Fungayi Munyoro Sports Correspondent
WARRIORS’ captain and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder, Willard Katsande, is yet to pay Redwing Mine Under-18 their 2014 Willard Katsande tournament winning prize, Post Sport has learnt.
Redwing Mine won the 2014 Willard Katsande soccer tournament title after outplaying Mutare Stars, but they are yet to receive their dues.
According to the team manager, Amino Bhamusi, Katsande failed to stick to his word and keeps on shifting goal posts.
“We won the tournament in 2014. Katsande had promised us that he will give us our money later on before leaving the country, but he did not stick to his word up to now.
Willard Katsande
“We tried to make a follow-up, but nothing materialised. He keeps on telling us that he will settle everything. Every time he comes here he will tell us the same old story. He will just sneak out of the country without settling the matter. All we want now is our money and we are tired of his same old story,” said Bhamusi.
For winning, they were supposed to pocket $800.
Redwing Mine’s goalkeeper won the keeper of the tournament and they also produced the player of the tournament.
Their coach, Bhamusi, was voted coach of the tournament.
Mutare Stars came second and were given $600, while Chipinge Academy were on third position after dismissing Sicho Masachi’s La Sakubva 9-8 on penalties.
They got $400 for their efforts.
La Sakubva were on fourth position and walked away with $300.
The teams that took part included Redwing Mine, Mutare Stars, La Sakubva, City Strikers, Chipinge Academy, Super Tigers, Barons, P Stars, Golden Scissors, Golden Stars, SAFA, Matan and Sheckon Stars.
The past winners of the competition include La Sakubva in 2012, Chipinge Academy in 2013.
In 2015, the tournament was not played and in 2016 it was won by La Sakubva again. This year the tournament will be held in June. In a telephone interview from his South African base, Katsande said he would settle the debt when he comes for the June tournament.
“I think there have been communication problems, but before the start of this year’s tournament they must come and get their money. I will definitely give them. I was tied up and every time I visited that side we could not meet, but I will make it up for them,” he said.
Meanwhile, La Sakubva is yet to receive their $100 winning prize for the Alois Bunjira Gazzaman Tournament which was held in August last year. Contacted for comment, the former Caps United and Warriors player, Bunjira, insisted that he gave them their money. La Sakubva coach and owner, Sicho Masachi, said they were fed up with empty promises.
“Bunjira never gave us our money as he is saying. We are no longer following up on him. We cannot continue to bother him. We have decided to shift our focus on something else than to continue to follow up on that money,” he said.
La Sakubva were runners-up after losing to Alban Academy 3-4 on penalties.
