By RONALD CHAWE –
KITWE Playing Fields (KPF) insists they fielded the three banned players against Red Arrows last weekend because the Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) had promised to lift the suspensions.
Last weekend national rugby league (NRL) Week Nine match was called off with Arrows given points after KPF insisted on using the three players namely Fine Chikumbe, Benaya Mukwamba and Parson Kasonde.
According to the letter availed to the Times, KPF stated that the ZRU officials had promised to lift the ban of the three players during the Mopani 15s tournament which was held in Kitwe a fortnight ago.
The club has since accused the union for being unfair and not telling the nation the truth over the issue of the banned players.
“As KPF, we want to put the record straight. We did not just take the banned players to Lusaka to play Red Arrows, but we did so with the blessing from some union officials who promised to lift the ban of the three players at the Mopani 15s tournament which was held on June 18 in Kitwe.
“But we learnt at a later stage that it was not done as earlier promised before the Arrows game, as the game was very crucial to both clubs as it was the decider for the league title of the season,” the letter reads.
Mukwamba and Kasonde were banned for 10 years while Chikumbe was slapped with an eight year ban for attacking referee Joseph Ingwe on April 23 in KPF’s 6-3 Kitwe derby home loss to ‘Men At Work’ Diggers.
KPF sent the appeal letters for the trio on May 30 was sent to general secretary Francis Chitambo and copied to ZRU president Clement Sinkamba and his vice John Chibuye.
The letter was signed by club secretary Godfrey Mwanza and club chairperson Bwalya Mufonka in response to the ZRU’s letter which was sent to KPF by e-mail on May 17.
But the ZRU has insisted that the three players have not appealed against their bans.
Meanwhile, Arrows will be aiming to complete a double over rivals Green Buffaloes and extend their lead at the summit of the table when the two clash in a defence forces derby Week 10 fixture.
Nkwazi host troubled fourth positioned KPF hoping to maintain their second place with a win as defeat would see ‘Men At Work’ Diggers, in third slot, leapfrogging them should they beat Chibuluma.
Other fixture pits former league winners ‘Powerhouse’ Lusaka against Green Eagles while Division B clashes will Konkola play Mufulira, Nchanga host ‘Killer Bees’ Ndola Wanderers with Kansanshi taking on Roan.