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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE start of regional Division One League season matches across the country could be the final nail on the coffin of the much-touted about National First Division One League, Post Sport understands.
In the Eastern Region, fixtures for MatchDay One to start next weekend have already been released, with some of the teams that were billed to partake in the National First Division League also set to play in the second tier regional league.
It is the same story in the Northern Region where 2023 fixtures have already been released and teams, some of those that had been included on the list of inaugural participants of the National First Division League, partaking in the regional league season that will start tomorrow (Saturday).
The National First Division League concept was set to be implemented by hook or by crook, even against the background of lack of resources on the part of clubs that were supposed to compete in that ambitious project.
At one point, a ZIFA AGM which that was expected to make a decision on the matter was abruptly put on ice, ostensibly to silence dissenting voices that are opposed to the idea.
In the Eastern Region, Mutare City Rovers, Masvingo United, Chiredzi United and Renco Mine – the teams that finished last season among the top five – expressed interest to join the National First Division League, but they have also been listed on the Eastern Region Division One fixtures.
Ideally, the National First Division League concept, in itself, is a legislative omission which was long factored into the ZIFA constitution under Section 10, but somehow could not be implanted over the years.
For reasons best known to its members, it appears, the ZIFA executive committee was now determined to have the National First Division League in place, never mind the means.
Be that as it may, issues relating to costs in the absence of sound sponsorship has been the major talking point in this rushed implementation of the National First Division League.
Apart from lack of resources on the part of clubs owing to some power hungry regional chairpersons and their committees who felt that the emergency of a National First Division League will erode their control and relegate them to managing less competitive Division Two leagues, the National First Division League remains a pipeline dream.
ZIFA acting general manager, Xolisani Gwesela was not reachable for comment at the time of going to Press.
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