adminNgqabutho Moyo, Sports Reporter.
ZIFA Southern Region Division One Soccer League club Portland Cement FC’s future in the league hangs by a thread. Their scheduled match against ZPC Hwange had to be postponed amid reports that the company is considering to stop sponsoring the team. The Cement Siding based club which won promotion into the regional league after being crowned as the 2013 Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Division Two champions, were last in action on May 31 when they lost 0-3 to Tsholotsho at home.
Workers at the factory told Chronicle this week that management was not keen on financing soccer.
The sport is the most popular at the company and enjoys support from a majority of the labour force.
A source from the company said: “The match has been postponed because there is no money for the team to travel and the company is not interested in funding the team.”
The worker said it was surprising that the company was eager to sponsor disciplines like cricket, hockey, rugby and the marathon.
In the event of Portland Cement FC pulling out, Musa Mandaza led Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League will be left with 13 clubs out of its initial 18.
When asked to comment on the issue Mandaza said: “There are measures being taken to address the issue but I cannot give details now as we are still deliberating.”
In other matches Technosphere are expected to lock horns with Black Boots in Hwange and table toppers Ntabazinduna are billed to clash with fellow uniformed forces side Elephant FC.
Fixtures
Division One
Today: ZPC Hwange v Portland Cement (postponed), Tsholotsho v Plumtree Chiefs (White City), Black Boots v Technosphere (Hwange), Ntabazinduna v Elephants FC (Barbourfields), New West v Mpumalanga (Hwange), Trumus v Hwange Juniors (Victoria Falls)
Bulawayo Province Division Two
Lobengula Stars vs BCC Stars (Lobengula) 3PM
FC Kombani vs Magwegwe (Matshobane) 3PM
Zim Leopards vs ZRP Byo Prov ( Iminyela) 3PM
Highlanders Academy vs ZRP (B/F Ground1) 3PM
Khami Utd vs East Rovers (Khami) 3PM
Ajax Hotspurs vs White Birds (Bango) 3PM
Chicken Inn vs Casmyn (Njube Desert) 3PM
CS Distributors vs Zimplow ( Sizinda) 3PM
Division Three
FC LG Vultures vs Nemangwe Stars B/F Ground 2 3PM
Corn Cob vs Mpopoma Pirates Ngenile 3PM
Riverside vs Luveve Juniors Riverside 3PM
Matopo vs EM Sports Matopo 3PM
Thorngrove vs FMH Academy ( Sotshangane) 3PM
Luveve BX1 vs New Lob Rovers (Luveve Y/Centre) 3PM
Talen Vision vs Arenel Movers ( Nkulumane 12) 3PM
Annolle Castings vs Toronto ( Matshobane) 12PM
Matabeleland South Division Two
Today
Farvic v ZRP (West Nicholson), Shining Stars v Gwanda United (Mtshazo Business Centre)
Matabeleland South Division Two
Tomorrow
West United v Gwanda Town (West Nicholson ground),Jessie Mine v Prison (Jessie Mine ground), Barca v Unicem (Mtshazo Business Centre), FC Maranda v Prison (Maranda Ground), BB Juicing v Stonebrakers (Juice Ground), Bishopstone v Takezawa (Bishopstone Ground), FC Limpopo v Matshiloni (Dulibadzimu Stadium)
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