adminBruce Chikuni
FORMER Premier Soccer League chairman, Twine Phiri, has hailed the ZIFA Northern Region Division One League leadership for attracting big crowds to their matches.
He has urged the PSL to revisit their gate charges.
The top-flight league matches have largely been played before virtually empty stadiums.
In sharp contrast, there is life at Division One matches.
The ZIFA Northern Region showdown between Golden Eagles and Simba Bhora at Ellis Robins on Tuesday attracted a huge crowd.
It ended in a 1-1 draw.
Phiri was PSL chairman from 2010, and crowd attendance was around 80 percent during his tenure, particularly in games involving the country’s traditional big three teams, Highlanders, Dynamos and CAPS United.
It was also during this time that Dynamos won four league championships on the bounce, a feat that had only ever been achieved by Highlanders.
Phiri urged the PSL hierarchy to borrow some concepts, from the Northern Region bosses, to attract supporters back to top-flight encounters.
“I have been hearing people speaking highly of the Northern Region league lately.
“I went there to see for myself and I’m still processing the exciting moments I witnessed.
“The Northern Region is now at par with the PSL.
“The league’s administration deserves credit for what they have done, because it’s not easy to attract huge crowds, especially during times like these.
“Golden Eagles and Simba Bhora, were well dressed and they played exciting soccer, and with the affordability of the match, one is surely bound to go and watch.
“The PSL administration should emulate what Northern Region chairman, Martin Kweza, has done to lure fans.”
He said PSL charges were high, hence the low attendance at matches.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter