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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASMYN FC have taken over Magwegwe Pirates’ Southern Soccer League slot after Magwegwe Pirates relinquished their franchise due to financial challenges.
Magwegwe Pirates were kicked out of the Southern Region Soccer League after failing to pay affiliation fees as well as attending an induction course for new clubs.
Newly promoted clubs pay $3,000 while teams which were in the league last season fork out $2,500.
Casmyn FC are in their maiden season in the Southern Region Soccer League alongside pre-season favourites Bulawayo City, Hwange’s Makomo FC and Amagagasi of Victoria Falls.
Last week the Zifa Southern Region approached their Bulawayo Metropolitan Province counterparts asking them to second a team to take up Magwegwe Pirates’ place and yesterday Pirates’ chairman Washington Chimanda confirmed that Casmyn FC who finished fourth in Division Two had accepted the offer.
Zim Leopards who were third behind BCC Golden Stars now known as Bulawayo City and Magwegwe Pirates declined the offer to play in the regional soccer league.
“Casmyn FC are replacing Magwegwe Pirates having shown interest in taking up the Southern Region Soccer League franchise. We wish them the best as they seek promotion into the Premiership,” said Chimanda.
The Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza said they were waiting for a formal notification from the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province that Casmyn FC have taken over Magwegwe Pirates’ slot.
“What became clear to all is that Magwegwe Pirates weren’t ready to play in the Southern Region Soccer League as they never made any attempt to show commitment that they want to be part of us. We wrote to the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province asking them to second a club and I’ve been informed that a club has volunteered to take up the challenge but we’re waiting for official communication which I believe by Monday it will be there,” said Mandaza.
Fixtures
Week 1: Bulawayo City v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Luveve), Bulawayo Chiefs v Casmyn FC (Raylton), Bantu Rovers v ZPC Hwange (Hartsfield), Amagagasi v Trumus (Victoria Falls), Ntabazinduna v Quelaton (Ntabazinduna), New West v Hwange Juniors (White City), Mpumalanga United v Black Boots (Hwange), Technosphere v Makomo (Hwange)
Week 2: Trumus v Technosphere (Hwange), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Ntabazinduna (HQ One Brigade), Quelaton v New West (Nust), Casmyn FC v Mpumalanga United (to be advised), Black Boots v Bantu Rovers (Fairbridge), Hwange Juniors v Bulawayo Chiefs (Hwange), Makomo v Bulawayo City (Hwange), ZPC Hwange v Amagagasi (Hwange)
Week 3: Bantu Rovers v Casmyn FC (Hartsfield), Amagagasi v Black Boots (Victoria Falls), Technosphere v ZPC Hwange (Hwange), Bulawayo City v Trumus (Luveve), Ntabazinduna v Makomo (Ntabazinduna), New West v Indlovu Iyanyathela (White City), Bulawayo Chiefs v Quelaton (Raylton), Mpumalanga United v Hwange Juniors (Hwange)
Week 4: Casmyn FC v Amagagasi (to be advised), Black Boots v Technosphere (Fairbridge), ZPC Hwange v Bulawayo City (Hwange), Makomo v New West (Hwange), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Bulawayo Chiefs (HQ One Brigade), Quelaton v Mpumalanga United (Nust), Hwange Juniors v Bantu Rovers (Hwange), Trumus v Ntabazinduna (Victoria Falls)
Week 5: New West v Trumus (White City), Mpumalanga United v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Hwange), Bantu Rovers v Quelaton (Hartsfield), Amagagasi v Hwange Juniors (Victoria Falls), Technosphere v Casmyn FC (Hwange), Bulawayo City v Black Boots (Luveve), Ntabazinduna v ZPC Hwange (Ntabazinduna), Bulawayo Chiefs v Makomo (Raylton)
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