adminNgqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
PERENNIAL Southern Region Division One campaigners, Black Boots have relinquished their franchise, marking an end to one of the longest serving teams in the league.
Zifa Southern Region chairman, Musa Mandaza confirmed the club wrote to them stating they will not be playing in the league this year.
He said the club cited financial instability among other reasons for withdrawing from the league.
“Yes, they will not be there and it is sad for us. It is a club that has been there for a while now and contributed a lot to the league, we would have loved to see them continue but its unfortunate that we are losing them. We just have to move on,” said Mandaza.
The league had been scheduled to kick off this weekend but commencement of games has been moved to next weekend with fixtures being released on Friday although there are still questions on the availability of Chiwororo, who are reportedly yet to make a firm commitment on their presence for this year’s campaign.
Mandaza said while they have provisionally planned for a 16-team league there could be 17 teams with confirmation set to be made during the week.
Initially congress had agreed to an 18-team league but the withdrawal of Black Boots and uncertainty of Chiwororo’s participation could lead to only 16 teams playing this year.
Lunda of Binga were replaced by NRZ Leopards of Dete in Matabeleland North after the former indicated their inability to take part in the league.
According to fixtures released on Friday, former Premiership side, Tsholotsho begin their campaign at home against Casmyn at Luveve while Hwange take on ZPC Hwange.
Title contenders Talen Vision open their account against Zim Leopards at Gifford High School while ZRP Bulawayo Province takes on CIWU at Fairbridge and Moto Moto battles Main Line in Hwange.
Newly promoted Pumula-based side, Toronto are away to Mosi Rovers in Victoria Falls and Bosso 90 take on Indlovu Iyanyathela.
In the last fixtures, NRZ Leopards or Chiwororo takes on Makomo at a venue yet to be determined.
Stung by failure by clubs to pay their full affiliation fees in previous years, the executive felt it prudent for teams to affiliate before the games start.
While teams not in good standing were allowed to participate in previous annual general meetings, this year they were relegated to observers.
Concern has been raised over fixture disruptions as teams struggling financially fail to travel for games, don’t pay referees or withdraw from the league in the course of the season.
Online Reporter