adminSports Correspondent
ZIFA Bulawayo Province chairman Washington Chimanda is grateful for the sponsorship availed by Willsgrove Markets, saying the gesture will go a long way in providing motivation for teams in the provincial leagues. Willsgrove availed $4 800 for the province’s Division Two and Three Leagues a fortnight ago. Willsgrove director Joseph Mutero also chipped in with $400 that will go towards a new award for the Most Disciplined team in both leagues.
“As Bulawayo Province we are glad that we have secured this sponsorship as funding has been a great challenge for us and we know that money is one of the biggest incentives, I am sure now teams are going to put in the extra effort as they seek to win their respective leagues,’’ said Chimanda.
“The monetary prizes should prove the motivating factor that has been lacking. Although teams certainly play to be promoted to the next tier, availing such funding is crucial for the league.”
The top two Division Two sides at the end of the season will share $2 500 while in Division Three they will share $2 000 with $300 going towards administration.
Mutero, who is also a board member in the Zifa Bulawayo Province Board, said he had to personally fork out $400 to award the most disciplined teams because of the high number of disciplinary cases that had been forwarded to them.
“I was worried by the fact that we had several complaints of indiscipline that we have been handling and felt compelled to get into my pocket and fund the two awards with the hope there will be a change in the behaviour of the teams. As a board member, I would like to see more football and less squabbling from teams. It would be unfair to be dealing with complaints week in, week out instead of us focusing on developing the game,” said Mutero, adding that he was touched by the fact that teams were playing for just promotion without monetary rewards.
The former referee and match assessor expressed hope that the sponsorship will go a long way in changing the complexion of the league as teams up their game to win the prize money.
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