Admire Chatindo
Bikita Minerals FC head coach Tonganai Fastino Mugeji said his team’s slid into the country’s top soccer league was a result of hard and contributive work between the team management and players.
Bikita Minerals secured a ticket to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after Grayham FC lost three points, which were awarded to Bikita Minerals FC following fate twisting ruling made by the Eastern Region Soccer league board (ERSL) which found Grayham guilty of using an unregistered player.
Mugeji said he was elated by the new prospect and passed the credit to his team for the hard work displayed this season and his assistant coaches for the contributive efforts that catapulted the team into the country’s top league;
“Our promotion to the premier league is a result of hard work the boys put into play and I am elated by this new prospect. I thank my assistants and the management for the contributive efforts that catapulted our team into PSL”
The season pulled down its folds with Grayham FC Football Club at the top of the table with 59 points, and the decision to crown the team as champion was put to a standstill given some violations of the ERSL rules.
In a statement released by the ERSL board following a meeting held on November 25, Grayham FC lost three points for using an unregistered player while Bikita Minerals FC was fined for assaulting match officials after the league match.
“The ERSL 2023 soccer season ended on November 19 2023 with Tenax Football club finishing on top of the log with 59 points however there was a pending case involving one of the teams which was in the championship race. The conferment of champions was put on hold due to this matter.
“ERSL awarded three points to Bikita Minerals FC and fined the club for assaulting match officials after a match and three points were deducted from Grayham FC for using an unregistered player. The three points added to Bikita Minerals FC which was second on the table made them to stand out as the champions,” reads part of the statement.
Bikita Minerals FC was awarded three points according to rule number 13.1 while Grayham FC breached rule 14.1.6 of the ERSL rules and regulations and also rule 13.2.
The awarding of three points to Bikita Minerals FC changed the log standing making Bikita Minerals log leaders with 60 points and eventually becoming the 2023 ERSL Champions” said the Eastern Region football club board.
ERSL’s ruling left Tenax FC on second position with 59 points followed by Wangu Mazodze with 57 and Rusitu Tigers finishing on fourth position with 51 points.
