What they said about a single second-tier league

 

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter

POST Sport went out to solicit views of analysts from diverse football backgrounds on the merits and demerits of having a single National First Division.

 

Read on . . .

Passionate Mutare football follower, Douglas Leo Mutsotso, said: “It (having one National First Division) is a good thing if the resources are there. But with the current economic situation, I do not think it is going to work. Did we address the problem which made us scrap the one First Division? If yes, then we should go ahead with it, if not, then we should solve the problem first.

“Those countries with one First Division are well resourced. We do not have to copy their models if we do not have the money to do it. With football, you need money to finance it. To have one National First Division, we need to address the problems which made us scrap the one first division or the two (Southern and Northern) we had. We do not need to rush these things.”

Veteran football administrator, Tavengwa Hara, was indifferent.

“Why did the councillors remove it from the constitution in the first place? Will they take it back in the constitution, again? I thought we were at a stage of implementation, but now people are talking of something they removed six months ago without giving reasons. This makes me a man without a contribution to this debate. Best are those who put it, remove it and want it again (councillors). They have special reasons for this yo-yo thinking,” said Hara.

Staunch Liverpool and Dynamos fan, Munyaradzi Zinomwe, said: “Yes, it is a good idea to have one National First Division, but there is need for serious resources and planning. Most Division One teams will struggle to criss-cross the country especially with poor attendance and low sponsorship levels that we currently have.

“We hope more sponsorship packages will be availed, plus more due diligence on financial capacities on teams to sustain a whole season fulfilling all matches.”

Player manager and benefactor, Donald ‘King Azzurri’ Manhende, said: “Without any sponsorship deal from ZIFA to the affiliates which cater for accommodation and transport, it is a NO.”