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Takudzwa Chitsiga, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE promotional race in the Mashonaland West Division Two A and B is supposedly going to take long as teams are in the dark on how many teams will be promoted.
The Dereck Matapure-led Mashonaland West Division Two A and B league wrote to the teams notifying them of their intentions to have another play-off.
Chegutu-based Berks FC and Chinhoyi Rangers were notified to take part in play-offs last week, and they are feeling short-changed as most of their players’ contracts ran out on December 31.
The teams feel that the region’s chairman, Matapure, was not honest in the way the league would promote a team to the ZIFA Northern Region Division One league for the 2025 season.
Matapure said they will stand guided by the Northern Region Soccer League.
“We are yet to get the lead from the Northern Region so that we map the way forward. The teams were notified of the play-offs way before the season lapsed.
“I think we will get a consensus with the teams involved so that football will be the winner in the end,” he said.
Berks FC chairman Guy Musviki said they are feeling short-changed by the developments as they cannot plan for the future.
“We were made to understand that we will be automatically promoted to the ZIFA Northern Region Division One League without going through some play-offs. It was only a surprise to be notified last week that we will play against Rangers for the sole ticket to Division One.
“As Berks FC, we have already played against Golden Valley at a neutral venue in Karoi where we won 2-0. We thought we had played our part as a team, but we are told to play another play-off.” Already we are drained after taking part in 24 league games throughout the season, but we are told we have to play in Karoi again on January 11.
“We were supposed to be notified on the procedures way before the season came to an end, and it is confusing on the way forward. “There was no proper communication from Matapure. We have never had an annual meeting in three years, and we are wondering how it is possible for the region to be accountable.
“We have since written to the region, and they have not responded. We have most of our players’ contracts lapsing on December 31, but we are told on the issue of play-offs when we have no proper teams.
“Last year there were no issues with Norton Community and CCLEE Mhangura all getting their slots, and we don’t understand the changes,” said Masviki.
Online Reporter