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Raymond Jaravaza . .
A number of Zifa Southern Region clubs are struggling to make ends meet and paying affiliation fees — eight matches before the 2018 season comes to an end — is proving to be a daunting task.
The league bosses set 31 August as the deadline for all clubs to have paid monies owed in affiliation fees.
Payment of affiliation fees is part of clubs’ constitutional mandate in order to play in the Zifa Southern Region league.
New teams that joined the league for the 2018 season are required to pay $2 750 while old clubs part with $2 000.
The payments should be made at the beginning of every season.
“We acknowledge that clubs are operating in difficult economic conditions so paying their affiliation fees is easier said than done but our treasurer (Brighton Malandule) will keep reminding teams of their constitutional mandate to pay what they owe the league.
“A number of teams still owe the league but we will not be taking drastic measures to recover the money. We will continue to engage, football should be the winner at the end of the day,” said league boss Musa Mandaza.
Meanwhile, two teams are set to be relegated from the league when the season ends at the end of November.
As it stands NRZ Leopards — a team owned by the National Railways of Zimbabwe and based in Dete — anchor the log standings with 14 points from 21 games.
Nothing short of miracles can cushion the team from relegation.
Also in the drop zone is ZRP Bulawayo Province who sit on 15th position with 16 points.
“Ideally we would like our league to have 16 teams so we still stand by a resolution made by the clubs to relegate two teams at the end of the season,” he said.
derick.khumalo