D1 football for Plumtree

Raymond Jaravaza .
THE community of Plumtree will finally enjoy Division One football after years on the sidelines as Mainline FC have accepted an invitation from the Zifa Southern Region to be part of their league this season.

The 2018 Zifa Southern Region season is expected to kick off late March or early April.

Mainline FC, a team that hails from the border town of Plumtree, last year played in the Bulawayo Province Division Two League and finished in 4th position.

Traditionally the top two teams in the Bulawayo Province Division Two League are automatically promoted into the Zifa Southern Region league.

But the 2018 season is an exception to the rule.

a�?Last year we finished the season with fewer teams after some clubs pulled out from our league citing financial difficulties so we are now forced to promote more than two teams from the Bulawayo Province Division Two League.

a�?We extended an invitation to Mainline FC to take up an extra slot that was left by Bantu Rovers and the Plumtree club accepted. We welcome Mainline FC with open arms and hope they will add value and competition to our league,a�? said Zifa Southern Region league chairman Musa Mandaza.

Bantu Rovers have indicated that they will not be playing in Division One this year after being relegated from the Premier Soccer League.

Mainline FC is sponsored by Plumtree businessman Mkhulunyelwa Nkomo and South Africa-based Jonathan Ndlovu.

Coach Charlton Gumede said his target was to survive relegation in their first year in Division One.

a�?Ia��m happy the club executive took up the offer for Mainline FC to play in the Zifa Southern Region league, ita��s good for our young players to market themselves and the community will certainly enjoy watching us play Division One football.

a�?Our aim is to survive relegation as we build a stronger team for the future,a�? said Gumede.

The team will use Dingumuzi Stadium in Plumtree as their home ground.

The stadium is set to undergo renovations courtesy of the Plumtree Town Council before the 2018 season kicks off.