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Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
MASVINGO City Council is mulling to sponsor a football team in the Zifa Eastern Region Division One League that can compete for honours with the aim to earn promotion into the Premier Soccer League next year, an official has confirmed.
Housing and Community Services Director Levison Nzvura said the idea to have a football team which can rekindle the lost memories of PSL football in Masvingo were raised during a recent full council meeting but modalities were yet to be worked out.
“The issue was raised during a full council meeting but nothing concrete has been done yet over the issue. However, the idea got a nod from all ten councillors,” said Nzvura.
He said Masvingo had its popular team, Masvingo United, a former PSL side which needed the local authority’s support, to earn PSL status through winning the Eastern Region Division One League but serious considerations were yet to be made for that to happen.
“Most soccer fans in Masvingo are itching to watch PSL games at our citadel, Mucheke Stadium but the teams in the Division One are failing to make it happen.
“We have two teams in the Division One, Masvingo United and Masvingo Pirates which many think that they should merge to form one formidable outfit which will compete for honours this season.
“However, the challenge that the envisaged team will have is to do with sponsorship and that is where our councillors are saying the local authority should come in.
“We support the idea but certain modalities need to be addressed before the matter comes to fruition,” he said.
He said such issues could have been raised during 2019 budget consultation meetings for considerations so that council, in consultation with the residents, could factor in such issues.
Masvingo Mayor, Collen Maboke said there was a shared consensus among councillors on the need for the city to emulate other municipalities like Harare which had teams in the PSL. Bulawayo also had a team in the PSL which has since been relegated.
“There is general belief that we, as council, should support a football team which can bring back PSL matches to the city. We have agreed in principle but the matter has to be formally tabled although it was noted as a record in the full council meeting minutes,” said Maboke who is also an ex-officio member in Masvingo United team.
Masvingo United were relegated from the PSL in 2011 and have been struggling to make a return to top flight football since then.
derick.khumalo