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The Zambia Rugby Football Union (ZRFU) has fined Red Arrows Rugby Club KR 5,000 and banned them from taking part at this year’s opening tournaments – The Nchanga 10s in Chingola and the American tournament in Kitwe.
The ZRFU disciplinary sub-committee that sat at Ndola Wanderers Rugby Club at the weekend, found Red Arrows guilty of bringing the name of rugby into disrepute when they walked off the pitch during a league match against Diggers on 8 September 2012 in Kitwe.
ZANIS sports reports Joe Silwamba, the Chairman of ZRFU Disciplinary Committee to have confirmed the development in a statement in Lusaka , today.
Silwamba says the Zambia Air Force sponsored side were expected to pay the fine within 60 days from the date of the decision.
“ The disciplinary committee further banned Red Arrows player McManus Musonda from all rugby activities until May 1 this year for hurling insults at referee Danny Mulenga during the same game between Arrows and Diggers, “ he said.
And delivering judgment after the hearing, ZRFU disciplinary committee member Enias Chulu said Red Arrows conduct was detrimental to the spirit of rugby by walking off the pitch when they knew the procedures to follow if they were aggrieved with the handling of the match.
Chulu further said the actions by Musonda could not be allowed in rugby circles as insults on the pitch or off the pitch were not in the best interest of the sport and for bringing the name of rugby into disrepute.
He said for this reason Musonda would serve the mandatory two-match suspension from the red card and shall stay away from all rugby activities until 1 May 2013.
Chulu warned that if Musonda would be used in any rugby activities by Arrows, the disciplinary committee would hold the club answerable and appropriate disciplinary action effected against them.
The committee has however cleared Louis Mwansa, the Red Arrows assistant coach from charges of influencing the team to abandon the game.
Chulu said the charge lacked merit because it was not possible for an assistant coach to instruct a team to walk off the team in the presence of the head coach and team manager.
“ Mwansa’s suspension which was slapped on 18 September 2012 has been lifted and is free to take part in all the rugby activities, “ said Silwamba in the statement.
The disciplinary committee has also dismissed allegations of financial impropriety against Zambia Women’s Association president Charity Sakala when the women’s national team went to Botswana in 2011, which Chulu said were improperly leveled against her.
The committee’s findings were that Sakala went to watch the tournament in her personal capacity and that she was not given the responsibility of handling finances by the ZRFU executive while in Botswana.
Her case was quashed and lifted her suspension immediately and was free to take part in all the rugby activities.
