SOME Border Strikers’ players are living in squalor in Beitbridge and have asked the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Fuz) to intervene.

Off the field problems at the Beitbridge-based Castle Lager Premier Soccer League club seem to have overlapped onto the field of play, as they remain the only team yet to pick up a point or score from their six matches.

Fuz president Desmond Maringwa said they are disturbed by the living conditions of the players in the border town.

Maringwa said most players want out and are only being held back by outstanding salaries and sign-on fees.

A fortnight ago, the players went on strike and it took the intervention of Fuz to persuade them to fulfil an away league match against Mutare City Rovers, which they lost 0-1.

“It’s very disturbing and sad to see the conditions our members are living in at Border Strikers. These youngsters leave their homes hoping to make it in football to support their families, but it’s inhumane to see players sleeping in a dilapidated building where there are no toilets or running water. They (players) told us that the same place that they sleep in is rented out to churches and some members of the community also hold their aerobics sessions there,” said Maringwa.

“Surely how do they expect their players to perform or the coach to deliver when his players are living in a filthy place? Sometimes club administrators are taking players for granted and it’s our hope that the issue of living conditions is attended to with speed. We hope to see Zifa and PSL coming to the rescue of the players who provide entertainment to the flagship of Zimbabwean football,” Maringwa said.

Some players said they were waiting to move during the July transfer window.

“We’ve been patient enough and they seem to be taking us for granted. Sometimes we are given $20 or R200 to keep us going, but surely how long shall we keep going when we have families to support and ourselves to look after,” said one player.

Strikers’ chairman Mandla Combat Moyo rubbished claims that his players are living in squalid conditions.

“The place that Fuz is talking about is a resting place for the players near our training ground. Sometimes we have two sessions and instead of them going to Dulibadzimu suburb where we have our clubhouse, they just rest at the place in question. Actually, we take players’ welfare seriously because even at a time when we’re facing financial challenges, we try to give them something,” said Moyo.