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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League has bowed down to the Normalisation Committee’s recommendation to promote two teams each from the Division Two Soccer Leagues.
The league had provisioned for the promotion of a single team from their three affiliated leagues namely Mashonaland Central Division Two A and B, Harare Province Division Two A and B as well as Mashonaland West Division Two A and B.
There was an outcry from the lower divisions after they were recommended to hold the playoffs stating that they were not informed in time.
Mashonaland West Province were the first to raise the dust with Mhangura Mine refusing to participate in the playoffs against Norton Community and wrote their displeasure to the Normalisation Committee.
Initially some provinces had agreed to play in the play-offs with Simbisa Brands winning the Harare Province against Royal Stars, with Agama FC winning the game against Zambezi Coal and Gas.
ZIFA Northern Region had communicated to the divisions last year that the provinces would promote a single team with winners in the two divisions taking part in playoffs.
Sweeney Mushonga confirmed that they will promote two teams but subject to their upcoming annual general meeting scheduled for March 23.
“We are going to promote two teams from each of the three provinces which affiliate to us after representations from the Normalisation Committee. We had communicated to the provincial leagues last year that the top two winners in the provinces would proceed to playoffs.
“The teams had agreed to be part of the playoffs only for a few and we are resorting to the 18-team league as before.
“At the moment we have 20-teams who are eligible, but we will map a way forward during the upcoming annual general meeting. We are hopeful that we will have a solution after our meeting.
“We are looking forward to a competitive 2024 league where will make sure the play-off system is addressed,” said Mushonga. Zambezi Coal and Gas, who played against Agama FC and lost in the penalty shootout, also played against Shamva Mine in another playoff where they lost through penalty shootouts again.
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