NRSL defends Championship decision, awaits ZIFA’s ruling on Karoi vs. Scottland
The Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL) has confirmed it has submitted all necessary records to ZIFA for the case involving Karoi United and Scottland FC. The contentious dispute over the championship title will now move forward, with the ZIFA Appeals Committee set to hear the matter on November 19.
NRSL vice-chairman Sweeney Mushonga clarified that the league had provided ZIFA with the full record of proceedings on Wednesday. “ZIFA has acknowledged receipt of the record of proceedings pertaining to the Karoi vs. Scottland matter,” Mushonga said in an interview, dispelling allegations that the NRSL had failed to furnish necessary documents.
Initially, there had been confusion regarding the timely submission of the documents, which prompted ZIFA General Secretary Yvonne Mapika Manwa to issue a warning to NRSL. Manwa had instructed NRSL to file the paperwork by the stipulated deadline or risk having the hearing proceed without the records.
Mushonga noted that delays were partly due to procedural challenges, as legal representatives often manage such cases on a part-time basis.
The dispute began when NRSL crowned Scottland as champions after Karoi United withdrew their appeal against a match decision. NRSL chairman Martin Kweza defended this decision, stating that the league had received an official email from Karoi United’s secretary indicating the withdrawal of the appeal. “The email was from the club’s secretary, who has always been our main point of contact. It authorized us to award the championship to Scottland,” Kweza said.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Karoi United reversed their position and informed ZIFA that they had not officially withdrawn their appeal and wished to pursue the case. “It was only after Scottland had been crowned that we received another letter from the same club official indicating that the appeal was still active,” Kweza explained. “We are now following due process and will defend our decision in the upcoming hearing.”
