Failed pledges in Div One..No sponsorship in sight as teams fail to pay affiliation fees

Raymond Jaravaza

MORE than 160 days ago when he was ushered into office as the Zifa Southern Region chairman, Andrew Tapela promised to bring on board sponsorship into Division One football. 

It was in his acceptance speech moments after trouncing ex-chairman Musa Mandaza by 20 votes to seven that Tapela told a group of sports journalists that his executive would change the face of the Zifa Southern Region league. 

“What is important is to keep the Southern Region intact and move forward. Top most for the incoming board is to make sure that this league is branded so that at first whistle next season, every team in the league has got something to play for.

“We will also make sure that we bring on board a corporate partner so that our teams do not have to worry about paying referees’ fees,” Tapela told the media on 14 October 2018 at a local hotel. 

Nearly six months later branding the Southern Region league is still a pipe dream. 

In fact, Tapela and his executive have been forced to push the 2019 season kick-off by two weeks. More than half the teams just cannot afford to pay affiliation fees and register players on time. 

Only six clubs, former Premiership side Bulawayo City, ZPC Hwange, ambitious Talen Vision, Victoria Falls-based Mosi Rovers, Turk Mine-powered Casmyn and newboys Arenel Movers have paid their affiliation fees in full.

Plumtree-based Mainline, Pumula East’s Toronto and newly promoted Binga United have managed to pay part of their affiliation fees.

Affiliation fees for newly promoted clubs are pegged at $2 500, while old teams, including those that were relegated from the Premiership, pay $2 000.

This excludes players and technical team registration fees. Registration for each player is $20, meaning $500 for a squad of 25 players and $250 for five technical team members.

“Our clubs are well aware of the situation on the ground (sponsorship pledges) but let me refer you to our S.G (secretary general Mehluli Thebe) who deals with the media on behalf of the board,” Tapela told B-Metro Sport.

The Zifa Southern Region has already lost a sponsor, Trukumb Mining, who has been bankrolling a knock-out tourney for the past three seasons. 

It remains to be seen if Nokel Security will continue sponsoring the monthly Top Goal Scorer award.