Karoi Bush Bucks Pulls Out of Division One PlayoffsΒ
By Lloyd MwaleΒ
Mashwest Division 2 runners up in the 2025 Division One promotion playoffs, Karoi Bush Bucks, has pulled out of the matches set for Harare today at the 11th hour citing failure to avail a team and unfair treatment by the provincial executive.
In a letter gleaned by the media, Karoi Bush Bucks President Kenson Kumponda wrote to Derrick Matapuri, Zifa Mashwest Provincial League Executive Chairman notifying the league boss of the his club’s intention to withdraw from the three provincial playoffs.
“The above action is pertinent. We have failed to avail our team for the above mentioned event and we regret for an inconvenience caused by our non-committal to such.” (Sic)
However the media sought clarification from Karoi Bush Bucks President who took a dig at the Provincial League Executive Chairman for unfair treatment during the first round of playoffs which was played at Pfupajena Stadium in Chegutu where Bush Bucks was walloped 3-nil by Chingwere last Thursday.
“We decided not to go because we felt we were being treated unfairly and our resources were not permitting. We played on Thursday in Chegutu, 188km from Karoi and we were supposed to travel another 215km away to Harare again for another round of playoffs.
“Can one club travel 188km to Chegutu while their opponents travel less than 60km, can you then consider that venue to be fair, you play a match on Thursday and another one on Saturday and Sunday. There will be no mandatory resting time for players and also the other three clubs which will be taking part in the three provinceial playoffs are resting.
“The standard in sports especially football is to put players safety first to avoid burn out. I asked Derrick Matapuri, Zifa Mashwest Provincial League Executive Chairman, about that decision to make us play in Chegutu and his response was that it was a boardroom decision. I don’t know whether it is a sin or crime that I contested him during the provincial executive chairmanship,” said a dejected Karoi Bush Bucks President.
Matapuri confirmed that Karoi Bush Bucks had pulled out of the playoffs.
“Karoi Bush Bucks has pulled out of the playoffs citing their own issues.Β We then extended the chance to Afroasiazim, the runners up in the Mashwest D2A, but they turned down the offer to represent the province. We then extended the invitation to Barca Kadoma who accepted the offer. So Barca Kadoma is going to represent Mashwest at the three province playoffs in Harare on Saturday (today).”
Today’s provincial leagues playoffs will pit Batanai, Scotland Academy, Barca Kadoma and Shamva, which was in the Northern Region Division One League but will face the three runners-up from Harare, MashCentral and Mashwest.
The withdrawal of Karoi Bush Bucks from the three province playoffs has sent tongues wagging within the provincial football loving fraternity for setting a bad image as most clubs put the blame on the provincial league executive.
