Maphosa embarrasses Highlanders

Sikhumbuzo Moyo

HIGHLANDERS FC midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa yesterday appeared before the club’s disciplinary committee charged with bringing the name of the team into disrepute.

The disciplinary hearing, however, lasted just under 30 minutes as the midfield maestro and his representative reportedly demanded to know why he was being tried when Maphosa had ceased to be a Highlanders employee.

They cited chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede’s interview with a local daily in which he is quoted as saying Maphosa has since been fired from the club for gross indiscipline.

Armed with the said newspaper, Maphosa and his representative Ezra Sibanda stuck to their guns and demanded that Gumede issues a retraction in the same paper first before the hearing could proceed and this forced the disciplinary committee’s chairperson and board member Elkanah Dube to adjourn the hearing to a later date.

Other members of the disciplinary committee include outgoing secretary-general Andrew Tapela and committee member Charles Moyo.

Last night Gumede promised to issue an official statement on the proceedings of the hearing today.

“I’ve not seen the reports from the disciplinary hearing, so I suggest you come back to us tomorrow,” said Gumede yesterday.

Maphosa is accused of bringing the name of the club into disrepute by his off the field behaviour that saw him being dragged into the courts for assaulting his former girlfriend and her alleged lover.

He was sentenced to 75 hours community service.

Maphosa is still a Bosso player as his contract runs out at the end of the year.

Inside sources said the club wrote three letters to the player, the first soon after his much publicised court case where they (Bosso) warned him against future negative publicity.

They wrote him another letter charging him with bringing the name of the club into disrepute.

Maphosa forwarded his letter of apology where he expressed his regret and promised not to show bad behaviour.

Six players have since been fired by the club for below par performances and lack of discipline while others who left had their contracts running out at the end of last month. The Chronicle