Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE start of the Premier Soccer League campaign will determine programmes of all lower tier leagues.
Following the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC)’s decision to give lower leagues the green light to resume activities, Zifa Southern Region chairman Andrew Tapela and his management committee met in Hwange at the weekend to deliberate on the season kick-off.
“The latest SRC letter gives us the platform for the way forward and shortly we will be communicating on the season kick-off. Because we’re a feeder to the Premier Soccer League, the PSL programme will give us a hint on how we can structure ours.
“We’re ready to roll and clubs that have been clamouring for action have to show their readiness. As Zifa Southern Region, we’ve always been optimistic that football will resume, hence our earlier decision to train Covid-19 protocol officers. We now call for registration of clubs and players, as well as venues that will be used,” Tapela said.
He said they were worried about clubs, which have been ignoring official communication.
In June, Tapela reported that only three clubs had fully affiliated with the Zifa Southern Region Division One League, with five making payment plans, while the rest are yet to make commitments.
Deadline to pay the affiliation fee of US$2 000 or equivalent in local currency at the prevailing bank rate of the day, was May 30 despite protests from clubs who felt the amount was excessive in light
of eroded incomes during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Clubs sought to have the amount lowered, but the executive insisted that to effectively run the league, the fees should remain the same.
The executive argued they it in fact reduced the fees from the previous U$2 500.
Yesterday, Tapela could not be drawn into reveal names of clubs that had paid affiliation fees in full or those that had made part payment.
“We’ll soon meet the clubs and that is where we will be able to officially know who is with us and who is not. Off hand, I don’t have the exact figure or names of clubs which have registered, but I can confirm that we are worried about those which didn’t completely respond,” said Tapela. — @ZililoR
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