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The committee which was headed by suspended Zifa Central Region chairman, Patrick Hokonya was tasked among other things to source sponsorship and build strategic partnerships for the league to ensure a sound financial base for the teams.
Members in the Hokonya-led team included former PSL secretary-general, Mwandibhuya Mutepfa, Gweru-based lawyer Reginald Chidawanyika and Knowledge Tazvinga.
However, ten months after the launch of the committee the financial standing of clubs in the league has not improved and nothing has been done as the committee was the brainchild of Hokonya who can no longer be involved in such activities.
Some clubs folded because of funding and a record eight clubs were promoted at the beginning of the season and many of them need funding.
McInn, Gweru Pirates, Lancashire Steel, Zimalloys and TM Eagles failed to affiliate in the league this year owing to financial challenges. Redcliff outfit FC Glow Petroleum offered its franchise for free after complaining of biased match officials.
The league then invited clubs to fill the slots which were left by the beleaguered teams which saw division two outfits Zialanda, Airstars, Whawha and Beitbridge teams Strikers FC and Town United being invited to fill in the places.
The promotion of the clubs has compromised the quality of the league with the majority struggling against the seasoned teams in the division save for the two border town teams.
The committee started on a promising note after a funeral services institution promised to inject $250 000 in the league only to rescind on the decision after allegations of match-fixing now known as Centralgate which sucked in Hokonya.
The partnership was going to see players and officials from the 16 teams in the Central Soccer League getting funeral policies and the insurance giant on its part was going to inject money into the league.
Conflicting reports have emerged from the region management committee now led by Patrick Hill and the business committee which has said they are not sure if they are part of the business committee since the acting chairman had not briefed them on the way forward.
However, Hill insisted that the committee was still intact and even claimed that it was negotiating a sponsorship package for the league.
“The committee is still there and they are working flat out to secure a sponsorship package for the league which I cannot divulge at the moment because it will jeopardise negotiations,” said the acting chairman.
A member of the committee Mutepfa said they were still in the dark about what they should do.
“We feel as a committee that we need the guidance and direction of the executive and up to now we have not received any communication. There should be a meeting between us and the management committee to map the way forward,” said Mutepfa who is also the chairman of the marketing committee in the region.
Online Reporter