adminPatrick Mushunj, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Football Association Matabeleland South Province Division Three Matshetshe League has come to life with the first games of the seasons played last week in Gwanda District.
Efforts are to spread football within the area and the teams which make up the league are Dambashoko, Sdakeni, Mahayiza, Nkwidze, West Wind, Wenka, Nkashe, Matshetsheni, Matshiya and Domboritsitsa Single Lions.
First league matches were played at Nkwidze Business Centre grounds and Dambashoko Business Centre grounds on Saturday and Sunday and winners of the league are expected to bag over $300 as eleven teams paid an affiliation fee of $60 each.
Launching the league at a sports gala organised by tournament sponsors Mahayiza Bottle Store, Zifa Matabeleland South chairman Nkosilathi Ncube encouraged teams to adhere to the Zifa rules and regulations.
He expressed gratitude for the formation of the league and the youthfulness of the league players with the youngest player aged 16 and the oldest aged 29. Club owners include qualified teachers, businesspeople and cross border transporters (omalayitsha).
The teams are in the move of registering their players and technical team members to the country’s football governing body, Zifa.
The league’s secretary Mbonisi Sibanda said they are yet to get sponsors to make their league flourish.
“We are yet to get sponsors as a newly launched league that is aimed at realising and nurturing talents of rural players.
“We are appealing to organisations and individuals to consider chipping in funds to our league so these boys can excel in the future. Great talent is enriched within the league as we have a bulk of players who have played in the Central region and Division 2 but had to fall out from withdrawals by their teams,” he said.
Online Reporter