Masvingo City gets council boost

Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
ZIFA Eastern Region Division One side Masvingo City received a boost after Masvingo City Council offered to avail a grant for the club’s expenses for the 2016 season.

The club needs about $45,000 to cover all its expenses for the 2016 season and council has made a commitment to release $34,850 to the team.

With the demise of Masvingo United, which was booted out of the league for failing to pay affiliation fees and taking football matters to court, the town’s hopes of hosting Premiership action now rest on Masvingo City.

Initial proposals for the team to lease one of the council’s beerhalls that have been closed hit a snag after failing to get backing from the city fathers.

There had also been suggestions that subsistence and travel allowances for councillors be slashed and the money channelled towards Masvingo City FC.

Masvingo mayor Hubert Fidze said council was supporting Masvingo City with hopes that they would bring back Premiership football to the country’s oldest town by winning the Zifa Eastern Region championship this season.

“It is our desire to cater for the team in all aspects. We are already doing so because they are not paying for the use of Mucheke Stadium to train,” said Fidze.

“We have unveiled a $34,580 grant for the team and we hope this will go a long way in alleviating their plight, although they were looking for $45,000.”