Text of Stephen Mangongo's letter to Peter Chingoka

It has come to out attention that Takashinga players have been instructed to move to Universals Cricket Club by the Universals member, National Convenor and ZCU board member Macsood Ebrahim without either consent, consultation and approval of the Takashinga Cricket Executive.

The same gentleman is going around telling people that Takashinga has been banned from cricket. Has Macsood become the owner of cricket in Zimbabwe? We would like to make it clear that Takashinga will not sit back and watch the players that they have produced and nurtured being bullied to play for Macsood Ebrahim's club as he is taking advantage of the ZCU contractual agreement between ZCU and the Takashinga players. Macsood is abusing his privileged position as a board member.

Alestair Maregwede and Chamunorwa Chibhabha have told Takashinga that they have been instructed to play for Universals by Ebrahim with immediate effect (Sunday 16 January). As I write this letter Alestair and Chamunorwa have played for Universals for fear of victimisation and loss of playing contract. We have also been told that other six of our players who have not agreed to the kofve by Ebrahim have been threatened with withdrawal of contracts.

If there is any extortion this is the extortion at its highest level. How ZCU allows Macsood to bully people left, right and centre leaves a lot to be disired concerning the professional image of the organisation. I would like to bring to your attention that Takashinga has contributed a lot to Zimbabwe cricket. The six players, including the captain currently in Bangladesh, have all been produced and nurtured by Takashinga. Close to half of the first-class players in this country have come from Takashinga, Takashinga has produced nearly half the players of every age group team. This is the club that has contributed a lot to the game of cricket in Zimbabwe and somebody has got the nerve to purport to ban it. The future of Zimbabwe cricket lies in the strong club and League structure and if you Mr Chairman can sit back and watch whilst the future of the biggest club in the country is being threatened then your leadership leaves a lot to be desired too.

1) May we ask what is the point running clubs when the ZCU board members can wake up and the following day and order players to leave their clubs in fear of losing their contracts?

2) We advice Macsood to reap where he sows by simply recruiting 14 year-olds and in four years time he will be proud like Takashinga which produces bulk of National team players

We appeal to your office to intervene ands make sure that the players return to their club Takashinga which they registered for this 2004/2005 season. Macsood is also in breach of National League and Mashonaland Vigne Cup rules concerning player movement where a player cannot play for more than two clubs without proper procedures.

Yours in Cricket

Stephen Mangongo
Chairman, Takashinga Cricket Club