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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
TWO teams will be relegated from the just ended Castle Lager Premier Soccer League while four regional champions will be promoted to bring the number of teams to 18 for the 2017 Premiership season.
Highly placed sources close to the behind closed door discussions told Chronicle Sport that the Zifa executive committee led by president Philip Chiyangwa resolved in their Saturday meeting to increase the number of teams to 18 in a move that is largely seen as a win-win situation for both Zifa and the Premier Soccer League. The country’s flagship league wants two teams relegated while Zifa wanted all their regional champions to be promoted into the elite league.
“The decision has been passed, 18 teams will make up our PSL next year,” said the source who also revealed, prior to an official statement by Zifa, that Caps United chairman Lewis Uriri’s suspension has been lifted.
Zifa then released a communiqué just before midnight on Saturday confirming that indeed Uriri’s suspension has been lifted and that the play offs issue has been resolved although the statement did not go into detail.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) Executive Commitee met on Saturday (26 November 2016) and resolved the play offs issue with a committee headed by Executive Committee Member responsible for competitions, Piraishe Mabhena tasked to handle the contested matter. The Committee is comprised of Zifa regional presidents and PSL Emergency Committee members Messrs Kenny Mubaiwa, Advocate Lewis Uriri (whose suspension has been lifted) , Lifa Ncube and Lovemore Matikinyidze,” read the statement signed by Chiyangwa.
The Saturday decision will now bring joy to the Southern Region champions Bantu Rovers, Central Region kings Shabanie Mine, Black Rhinos from Northern Region and Yadah from the Eastern Region while Border Strikers and Mutare City will ply their trade in the second tier league next season.
Online Reporter