THE ghosts of unpaid arrears seem to favour Eastern region division one side Destiny Stars FC who amid cries from the former technical team and former players have already begun preparation for 2025.
For a Christian-based club that began its journey in the lower church league to then feature in division one football most people would expect nothing but loyal to their promises.
‘“This (Destiny Stars) started as a church project with youths involved in a bid to fight drug abuse in Hobhouse, Natview and Chikanga suburbs in Mutare. The name of the team was Church of Christ,” said Destiny Stars Secretary General Jemutias Manhondo while conversing with The Standard sports desk last year.
Destiny Stars were promoted to the Eastern Region division league after harvesting success in their respective Division 2 league.
After a fair performance in their initial first-round games, a performance that gave birth to David Chirandu’s player of the month gong reports of delays in remuneration payment began to surface, an unfortunate feat that dented the progress of a team bearing Christ’s cross.
Part payments were made late last year but since then players and former members of the technical team have been eating stories.
A reliable source, whose name withheld for confidential reasons showed displeasure towards the management of football at Destiny Stars showing baffling on why a club would prioritize league preparations over arrears settlements that are edging close to six months.
‘It does not make sense at all. You pay a serious face towards league preparations yet you have a long overdue backlog of unpaid remunerations. It’s fake promises over fake promises. So if it’s how you run football it means that you will repeat the same to players and coaches brought to the team.’
Last year the issue turned sour a potion of players protested to go and report the issue to the Footballer’s Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ).
Destiny Stars initial motto was to fight drug abuse by imparting a beneficial sports environment but the vision seems to be losing its grip because all work and no play makes youths think otherwise.
An attempt to get in touch with Destiny Stars chairman Wilson “Soks” Masokowere to get a comment was fruitless until the time of publication.
