Chronicle Editor
Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
THE battle for a top four finish is heating up in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League, as those four will compete for the John Landa Nkomo Memorial Cup.
The tournament will be held after the league ends. The John Landa Nkomo memorial Cup is being bankrolled by Liquor Hub to the tune of $5 000, with the winners taking home $1 300 and losing finalists pocketing $600.
The third and fourth-placed teams will each pocket $300.
Speaking at the unveiling of the sponsorship at Hitlink Investments on Sunday, Zifa Southern Region Division One League patron and tournament sponsor Raj Modi pledged to help develop football.
“The idea behind this competition was to honour Nkomo whom we had a father-son relationship. This is our third year and so far we have been doing well and as patron of the league, I’m fully behind this. I will do my best to improve soccer in the region and we look forward to seeing this competition grow,” said Modi, who is also the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza said football will never be the same with such sponsorships.
He said they look forward to more such competitions as well as a branded Division One league.
“This is our vision and more is yet to come. Our aim is to grow this league and have as many projects that will benefit our clubs. Football in the region will never be the same again with the deputy Minister as our patron. This is a new chapter that we have opened with Modi, so what we have been dreaming of is becoming a reality,” said Mandaza.
Last year’s competition was won by Bulawayo Chiefs, who won promotion to the Premier Soccer League.
Zifa Southern Region also revealed that it will be hosting a soccer stars’ event at the end of the season sponsored by Liquor Hub. The association is set to honour the 11 best players in their Division One league.
The soccer star of the year will walk away with $300, while the second and third runners-up will get $200 and $150 respectively. The Golden Boot winner and coach of the year will walk away $200 richer, with other soccer stars receiving $50 each. – @khumzallen
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