Rewa players yet to receive Pacific Cup winnings, says Buksh

Rewa Football Association president Nazeel Buksh clarified there has been a delay with the payment of the prize money from the Pacific Cup win in New Zealand early this month.

This is after Rewa striker Bruce Hughes posted on his Facebook page that the players have yet to receive their payment.

“There was a delay in getting our prizemoney from the Pacific Cup but on top of that there’s a player payment regulation in place. I think he (Bruce) is forgetting that,” Buksh said.

“We are not allowed to handout everything, we have to stay within our cap (player wage) and I think he has a misunderstanding that whatever is there is for them. It’s not.”

Buksh indicated the association had to follow the regulations that was in place by Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA).

“There is a very strict monitoring that is done by Fiji Football whereby the player payment, allowance and distribution of prize money are monitored,” Buksh added.

He said their club is not allowed to overpay players according to the regulations set by Fiji football.

“We (Rewa) have been always following regulations, we have been staying within our lim its and we know how to do this,” he said.

Buksh said they will heed the instructions given by Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) on the action to take against Bruce Hughes.

“Right now, everyone is on holiday both Fiji FA and Rewa Football as well,” he said.

“When we do resume our normal duties, we will sit down and see how to ad dress this matter.”

Buksh added the team won NZ$10,000 (F$13,215) in prizemoney in their Pacific Cup win.

“It is the Pacific Cup prizemoney and he (Bruce) is raising other questions as well on other distribution of other prize money as well,” he said.

Buksh said the payment of the Pacific Cup prizemoney will be done based on player regulation.

“It is important to note that we cannot exceed our limit, there is a $10,000 per player fine if we overpay anyone,” he said.

“We always keep to that limit and we always see that we follow all regulation set by Fiji Football.”

Yusuf confirms prizemoney

Rewa football association President Nazeel Buksh.

Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf confirmed via email that they received the funds for the Pacific Cup last week and have made the proper payment processes.

“The prize money was supposed to be collected today (yesterday) by Rewa FC president,” he said.

“Rewa FC will decide on what happens to that prize money.”