Players at Masvingo United FC, popularly known as Yuna Yuna, are reportedly grappling with a four-month salary backlog, sparking concerns over player welfare and the club's financial management.
Sources close to the club claim players have not received salaries since January, despite reports that funding had been secured to support the team.
"Since January players had not received any payment from the club," a source alleged.
One player, speaking on condition of anonymity, said concerns over unpaid salaries only gained attention after members of the squad raised the issue ahead of the team's match against GreenFuel FC.
"They don't say anything about our payment until we seriously complained ahead of the GreenFuel clash," the player said.
"We were told we would receive money since morning and we ended up telling ourselves to play the game, but we were later given payment, not knowing which month the pay covered, though we had gone four months without pay."
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Another player said the financial uncertainty was affecting motivation within the camp.
"Yuna Yuna has quality players who can compete, but playing for free is what demotivates the squad," the player said.
The reported salary delays come as the club continues its push to return to top-flight football after narrowly missing promotion last season. Financial challenges and sponsorship concerns have reportedly complicated those ambitions, frustrating supporters who have long hoped to see the club regain its place among Zimbabwe's elite teams.
In March, the club received a reported US$150,000 sponsorship package, along with a team bus and two vehicles. Senior ZANU PF officials, including Lovemore Matuke, Ezra Chadzamira and John Paradza, said the support had been secured after approaching Emmerson Mnangagwa for assistance.
However, the club has strongly rejected the allegations. Masvingo United communications officer Omen Mafa denied that players were owed four months' salaries.
"That is false. We do not owe players four months' salaries as alleged. We however do not want to discuss our players' personal contracts. We respect the doctrine of privity of contracts," Mafa said.
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