Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
AJAX Hotspurs faces extinction following their expulsion from the Bulawayo Province Junior Soccer League.
They were expelled alongside Njube Hotspurs after failing to pay affiliation fees and were in arrears from the previous season.
Many more that are struggling to pay fees may join these two with 35 others in arrears.
It is not the first time Ajax have struggled for funds, even their Division One campaigns despite producing the likes of Devine Lunga, Peter Muduhwa and many others to make it to Division One and the Premiership.
Zifa Bulawayo Province board member finance Dyke Magwanyanya confirmed on Monday that the two teams had been expelled.
“It was a resolution made at the annual general meeting that teams should during the first half pay 50 percent of the affiliation fees, then before the second half of the season starts, they pay the remainder. Some clubs that have been causing confusion had been owing from last season,” said Magwanyanya.
It has been a very bad year for Bulawayo junior football league with clubs threatening to pull out of Zifa structures.
Magwanyanya said it is important for clubs to affiliate and register their teams with the league.
Clubs want to pull out because they argue that since the junior league no longer has a seat at the Zifa Council, they cannot continue to pay affiliation fees to the provincial structure.
In the new constitution, junior development belongs to the provinces which have a seat at the Zifa Council, the highest decision making body of Zimbabwean football.
Magwanyanya said his executive had invited clubs to come forward and make a payment plan because they want to promote junior development.
“Because we are pro-development, we want the kids to play football, they are the future of the game, we have asked their clubs to come forward with a payment plan,” said Magwanyanya.
Clubs pay US$200 affiliation fees and US$100 registration fees.
The Bulawayo Province has been urging clubs to register with Zifa so that they can have their players on the Fifa Connect which would allow them to claim development and solidarity funds in the event of their boys making big moves.
A big number of clubs have not affiliated with Zifa or paid their dues for 2026.
In a list made available by Zifa, Biya and Friends Academy, Bulawayo City, FMSA Umguza, Highlanders, Real Stars and Talen Vision have paid all their dues in Serie A.
In Serie B, Zimbabwe Saints, Israelites, FC Gunners, Rangemore Academy, Pumula Celtics, Talent Khami Academy, How Mine, Alibaba Foundation, Bulawayo Saints, Iminyela Timers, Bulawayo
Chiefs, FC 70 and Mealz Eagles are the only clubs that have paid their dues.
Magwanyanya said affiliation fees give a club a claim of membership and that their registration with the national association protected them from seeing their players leave without compensation since their records will be in the football family.
Some clubs have been pressing to pull out of Zifa structures but have seen the light and want to stay in the official football family recognised by the Confederation of African Football and Fifa.
It is estimated that over 600 children may suffer should their clubs not pay outstanding fees.
Bulawayo’s junior league has produced legends like Madinda Ndlovu, Ronald Sibanda, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Alexander Maseko, Amin Soma-Phiri, Peter Ndlovu, Zenzo Moyo, Gift
Lunga (Senior), Gift Lunga (Jnr), Noel Cele, Agent Sawu, Peter Nkomo, Richard Choruma, Muzondiwa Mugadza, Godwin Mangayi, Master Masiku, Kelvin Maseko, Douglas Mloyi, Lovejoy Mugadza among many outstanding talents.
