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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ZIFA Manicaland Division Two outfit, Chicken Inn are now part of the Eastern Region Division One League following their triumphant campaign during the promotional playoffs played at Mutare Boys’ High last Saturday.
Playoffs bridesmaids, Destiny Stars now await the response from Eastern Region Soccer League following recommendations made by ZIFA Manicaland’s leadership to have the team promoted to Division One.
However, chances are high that Destiny Stars might also be accommodated, given that ERSL is now more of an invitational league due to the harsh economic conditions that have rendered most clubs unable to finance participation in one of the country’s four second tier leagues.
In an interview on the sidelines of the playoffs at Mutare Boys’ High, ZIFA Manicaland chairperson, Kuziwa Nyabeze, congratulated Chicken Inn FC for clinching the coveted promotion into the ERSL.
Nyabeze confirmed that they will be making recommendations for Destiny Stars to be accommodated in the ERSL.
“We are happy with the level of competition we have witnessed this season from the Division Two affiliate leagues. The appetite for success was high and that is good for the development of the game in the province.
“It is against that background that we would like to congratulate Chicken Inn FC for winning promotion into the Eastern Region Division One League.
“We will also make recommendations to have playoffs runners-up, Destiny Stars be accommodated in the Eastern Region Division One League because we feel that they have what it takes to partake in that league,” said Nyabeze.
Winners Chicken Inn FC, runners-up, Destiny Stars, La Sakubva and Rating FC took part in the annual end of season ZIFA Manicaland Division Two promotional playoffs.
Such is the touch of class in the Zifa Manicaland structures that all the four teams that took part in last Saturday’s playoffs walked away with new kits.
During the playoffs, Chicken Inn walloped hapless Rating 4-0 in one of the semi-finals, while La Sakubva and Destiny Stars were only separated in the penalty lottery shoot-out after the two teams had remained deadlocked on a nil-all scoreline during regulation time.
Destiny Stars won 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out.
In the playoffs final encounter, both teams settled for a one-all stalemate during regulation time, and winners Chicken Inn grabbed the silverware, thanks to a 4-1 triumph in the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
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