THERE are serious concerns over financial abuse at Bulawayo City Football Club, where the club’s board members are accused of gobbling funds by paying themselves astronomical allowances, and reports suggest that the council owned team has already blown its 2017 budget.

According to latest Bulawayo City council minutes, released by acting housing and community services director Dictor Khumalo, the club will now require an extra $277 631 to complete the season.

Bulawayo City FC had an initial budget of $777 966 but the projected season requirements now stand at just over a million dollars.

As a result of this alleged financial mismanagement, Bulawayo City Council has resolved to reduce the number of the club’s board members from 12 to seven.

The council also noted that some board members who had never attended any match still claimed allowances from the team while also interfering with the duties of the executive to the detriment of the football club.

 “The duties of both the executive committee were clearly stated in the Constitution so
as to avoid one stepping on another’s toes.

“However, in the recent past some misunderstandings had occurred particularly with the finances and the recruitment of the technical team.

“Sometimes undue influence had been brought to bear on the executive when prospective staff lobbied the board for support instead of leaving everything to the executive as per its constitutional mandate,” reported Khumalo.

Bulawayo City FC are hovering around the relegation zone, on 13th position and host Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields on Saturday.

They have two wins in the last five league matches.