Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo,Senior Sports Reporter
FIVE teams have been booted out of the Zifa Southern Region Division One League for not making commitments to pay affiliation fees.
Zifa Southern Region chairman Andrew Tapela said 2019 league runners-up Talen Vision, CIWU, Casmyn, Mainline from Plumtree and Mosi Rovers of Victoria Falls have lost their First Division status, and their slots will be taken up by clubs from Division 2.
Newly formed FC Ratanang and Indonsakusa, as well as Mountain Climbers, who finished at the bottom in the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two in 2019 are the new entrants.
“For the record, membership cannot be withdrawn unless a member has violated the League’s Standing Rules and Regulations. In this regard there is no club that had its membership status revoked or withdrawn under the said circumstances,” said Tapela.
“The correct position is that certain clubs failed to take up the offer for membership either by way of paying affiliation fees or making a commitment in writing and proposing a payment plan within the stipulated time and revised deadlines despite numerous reminders that were sent to them. In short, no club was denied the privilege of being a member if it had adhered to these conditions.
“Faced with these circumstances the board went on to consider applications from other clubs that were on standby. These clubs have since paid their affiliation fees, some in full and are now enjoying the status of being members of the League.”
In June, Tapela reported that three clubs managed to pay full affiliation fees, while five made payment plans.
The 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 protestations by clubs, which felt the amount was excessive in light of eroded incomes during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Clubs wanted the amount reduced, but the executive insisted that to effectively run the league, the fees should remain the same. The executive argued that it had, in fact, reduced the fees from the previous US$2 500.
Clubs had also queried how their 2020 affiliation fees were used when football was suspended due to Covid-19.
The axed clubs would not be drawn into commenting.
Tapela said the league has a full complement of members and is still receiving applications, giving room for axed clubs to file for readmission.
It looks like the Zifa Southern Region board has decided to dish out membership through sale of status at the expense of football merit. – @ZililoR
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