Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zifa Southern Region Division One League could be heading for brighter days after a new sponsorship deal emerged just as the region prepares to stage a pre-season tournament in Bulawayo this weekend.
Pacific Cigarette Company is set to back the competition, a development that would bring welcome financial relief to a league that has spent years battling to keep clubs afloat and competitions running.
For a long time, administrators in the Southern Region have worked with limited resources while clubs carried the burden of travel, logistics and player costs. Securing a corporate partner has often proved difficult, leaving one of Zimbabwe’s toughest football leagues operating largely on resilience.
The expected investment now offers the region a chance to steady the competition and restore confidence among clubs who have kept it alive through difficult seasons.
League officials have remained cautious about revealing the finer details of the partnership, but the prospect of stable backing has already lifted the mood around the competition.
The Dibula Matibula Top Four tournament kicks off this weekend at White City Stadium, bringing together four of last season’s strongest sides.
Nkayi United, Casmyn, Hwange FC and Bulawayo City will battle for early bragging rights in a competition designed to give supporters a taste of competitive football before the league campaign begins.
It may be a small tournament, but organisers believe it can spark fresh interest in the league while rewarding teams that performed strongly last season. Southern Region chairman Chrispen Mtungwazi said the new initiatives form part of a broader push to raise the league’s profile.
“Our aim is to make the league one of the best and to ensure the Southern Region is back on top of football where it belongs,” said Mtungwazi.
More matches also mean greater exposure for players hoping to attract attention from top flight clubs.
Support from community leaders is beginning to grow as well. Bulawayo Ward 24 councillor Tavengwa Zidya, recently urged businesses to support football development in the region and help professionalise the game.
For clubs, the message is clear. If the league attracts sponsors and builds new competitions, teams must raise their own standards and operate in a more organised manner.
After years of scraping through difficult seasons, the Southern Region finally has momentum.
The first sign of it arrives this weekend at White City Stadium.
