Highlanders Royals caught up in player registration storm

HIGHLANDERS Royals were caught up in a player registrations storm after it emerged that the Zifa Southern Region Women’s Soccer Division One side used five unregistered players in the league.

In a letter seen by Sunday News, it has been revealed that Royals, who are second from the bottom on the log standings, have been fined US$100 for using unregistered players during a league match against Ubuntu Queens.

“The league’s disciplinary committee also finds your club guilty of using unregistered players at your match against Ubuntu. Resultantly, your club has been fined US$100 payable immediately. You are advised to send a team representative to collect your licences for the Saturday fixture from the chairman’s office where any questions you have will be handled,” read part of the letter from the league which was signed by secretary-general, Killian Hadebe.

In the letter, Royals were also advised that beginning with their Saturday fixture, their players would not be allowed to play without licences. Hadebe added that registration forms would no longer be entertained as proof of registration for Royals’ players.

Furthermore, the league advised Royals that it had exhausted its quota of 30 players and cannot register new players until the next transfer window. It also advised the club that the league has no “deregistration policy” and as such, the club must “honour its contractual obligations with registered players”.

After the issue came to light, a source questioned why they registered 30 players when they were advised to register 25 and leave a slot to register five more during the transfer window.

“But now they (Royals) want to register five players on top of the 30 already registered, Akula bhora elinjalo (there is no football like that). It’s 30 or less players. And for about five games they have been using unregistered players. Royals have been cheating using other players’ licenses of players that look similar to each other. Even when Royals won 12-0, more than five players that they used in the game were not registered, but it was not easy to pick up until evidence was provided,” alleged the source.

Royals’ manager, Sabina Shumba refused to comment, referring all questions to the club’s management. Highlanders’ Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Moyo was unavailable for a comment. — @RealSimbaJemwa