By Ricky Zililo
BULAWAYO City have fired former Young Warriors utility player Proud Zireni for indiscipline. Zireni who was on a season loan at City from Bulawayo Chiefs has since returned to his parent club barely six months after joining the local authority bankrolled club.
Jerry Sibanda, City’s chairman confirmed termination of Zireni’s contract.
“Zireni is no longer with us and we’ve terminated his contract on disciplinary grounds. We don’t condone rowdy behaviour and we’ve been patient with him for long. He had a number of disciplinary issues which included skipping training to reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol. The final blow was a fortnight ago when he was chased away by players for trying to board the bus for our Harare trip where we lost 1-2 to Caps United. The team had to travel to Harare with 17 players,” said Sibanda.
The City chairman said Zireni got his first written warning in May when he absconded from training after he was paid his April salary. The utility player then received his second warning after the Triangle United away 1-0 win, again for going AWOL (absent without official leave). In that match against Triangle United, Zireni only played less than 15 minutes as he started vomiting and the club suspected hangover as the cause.
Upon returning from the Eastern Lowveld trip, Zireni disappeared getting his second warning. The incident that occurred before their trip to Caps United resulted in the player being summoned before a disciplinary hearing which led to him being fired.
“As a team that has corporate image to protect, the disciplinary committee saw it proper to part ways with Zireni. He is a brilliant player whom we thought was going to add value to the club but because of indiscipline we just had to let him go.
“Everything was done above board and now we will wait to hear from the technical team who will replace Zireni,” said Sibanda.
City are unlikely to miss the services of Zireni whom they used to play either as a right back or in the midfield. Lewis Ncube has done well as a right back and they also have seasoned Brighton Dube and Nyasha Mukumbi who can also play that position.
Former Triangle United striker Felix Kutswatuka who has been training with City for more than a month is likely to take up Zireni’s slot. The Chronicle
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