Casmyn in trouble for JMN Cup no show

CASMYN will be fined and dragged to the Zifa Southern Region disciplinary committee for failing to fulfil their Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Invitational Cup quarter-final tie against Matabeleland North Under-20 select in Hwange on Saturday.

Bryton Malandule, Zifa Southern Region board member (finance), confirmed that Casmyn had been booted out of the competition and will face disciplinary charges.

“We are going to sanction them for bringing the game of football into disrepute and also fine them the standard $500 for not fulfilling the fixture. They had confirmed that they were going to compete in the tournament. What this means is that Matabeleland North Under-20 select is through to the next stage. They will play against Bulawayo Chiefs in Bulawayo and we’re going to assist them with transport to and from Bulawayo,” said Malandule.

It is likely that Zifa Southern Region will use the $300 prize money, which the loser of the unfulfilled game would have received, to fund Matabeleland North Under-20 select’s trip to Bulawayo. All teams that bowed out in the first round of the eight-team tournament will each receive $300.

Besides Matabeleland North Under-20 select, teams that progressed to the semi-finals of the Trukumb Mining Enterprises sponsored competition are Bulawayo Chiefs, who beat ZPC Hwange 5-4 after a penalty shootout, Talen Vision and Bulawayo Under-20 select.

The Chiefs-ZPC Hwange encounter was decided by the dreaded penalty shootout after the teams were deadlocked 1-1 in regulation time.

Talen Vision, who will face Bulawayo Under20 select, beat Indlovu Iyanyathela 2-1. Bulawayo Under-20 select beat Black Boots 4-3 in a shootout after their game had ended 2-2.

Winners of the competition will take home $2 400, with the runners-up getting $1 500. Teams that lose the semi-finals slated for Wednesday in Bulawayo, will each walk away with $700.

League champions Chiefs are favourites to lift the title and are likely to face Talen Vision in the final.

— @ZililoR