Police won’t honour Isonga replay

One of this season’s Primus league title favourites, Police Fc have sent a clear warning stating that they won’t honour any calls for a replay of their league game against Isonga Fc.

Monday, April 30, 2012
Police FC chairman Alphonse Katarebe seated next to Supt. Eric Kayiranga and Assistant Commissioner of Police Jean Bosco Kabeera. The New Times / B. Mugabe.

One of this season’s Primus league title favourites, Police Fc have sent a clear warning stating that they won’t honour any calls for a replay of their league game against Isonga Fc.For starters, Isonga, who had over ten players composing the Junior Wasps team which played against Namibia this month, failed to turn up for their scheduled league fixture Police last Wednesday citing fatigue. Isonga had played on Saturday.Isonga claim they had informed the local football body, Ferwafa that turned down their request which is said to have come in less than 24 hours to the game.The Isonga FC club owner Augustine Munyandamutsa hesitantly refused to let his team play the game stating that Ferwafa rules stipulated that a club with over two players in the national team should be given at least 24 hours to regroup and play the scheduled fixture.However, Police went on and honoured the fixture but Isonga never turned and match officials graced the game and their report was given to the federation.The federation decided to have the competition commission review the issue and by press time, they had yet to take any decision.Meanwhile, on Saturday, Police Fc’s management led by Chairman Alphonse Katarebe said in a press conference held at the National Police headquarters that they will not honour the Isonga replay, saying, "…we believe we did what the league rules stipulate.”"We believe the Isonga game is a gone case. We believe we won that game with a forfeit and we are now focusing on the remaining three games of the season, he noted."We don’t see any reason why the federation will suggest that we have a replay. Police never defied the rules and this is why we will not at any point honour or allow anyone to take us back to Isonga match,” said Supt. Eric Kayiranga.Police are remaining with three matches against relegation battling Espoir, Marines and early season pace setters Mukura in their pursuit of breaking APR’s 12-year dominance as national league.