adminTHE re-branded Southern Region League soccer matches will be aired live on the national broadcaster’s only television channel, Zimbabwe Television this season.
Addressing delegates at the league’s annual general meeting at a Bulawayo hotel yesterday, chairman Musa Mandaza disclosed that the ZBC deal will see games being screened live on television for the first time.
The ZTV coverage will include both delayed and live matches, alongside a magazine programme profiling the league’s clubs and players.
Previously known as Zifa Southern Region, the league will this year be called the Southern Region League following a rebranding exercise that saw the Zifa affiliate change its logo.
Mandaza said while there would be no financial benefits from the deal they expected clubs and players to gain a lot from the agreement.
“This development will go a long way in exposing players to national scouts which could open more doors for our footballers. The screening of the games live will also give a lot of mileage to our sponsors and we are hopeful this development will increase our chances of getting bigger sponsorships for the benefit of our league,” said Mandaza.
The long-serving football administrator also told the gathering they had managed to retain their sponsors while they have brought on board Nokel Security to sponsor the Southern Region Player of the Month and Journalist of the Month awards.
Mandaza said the footballer voted the best in each month will walk away with $150 while the selected journalist will pocket $50.
“This sponsorship will go a long way in ensuring that we improve the quality of football in the region and the honouring of journalists who cover our league will ensure that our players and sponsor get a lot of publicity and mileage,” he said.
The 16-team second tier league will roar into life on 21 March, the date set for the first games.
The assembly recognised President Mugabe’s birthday, with everyone in attendance standing up to clap hands in celebration of His Excellency’s 91st birthday.
Mandaza said they were also honoured by the fact that this year’s celebrations were being held in Victoria Falls, which falls under the Zifa’s Southern Region.
“The 21st February Movement is all about the youth and football also is mainly played by young people and as their leaders we would like to stand up and salute the President and we also bask in the glory that the celebrations are being held in Victoria Falls at a time when we changed our logo to incorporate the thundering waterfalls,” he said.
Mandaza praised Tsholotsho FC for making history by becoming the first team to come from rural Zimbabwe to win promotion into the elite league and said the feat was likely to be a catalyst for more development in Tsholotsho.
He said this was already evident through the Government’s announcement that it will be taking over the construction of the proposed stadium in the rural centre.
“Tsholotsho has been lagging behind as far as development is concerned and the successful construction of the sports facility which will also bring employment opportunities to locals, is likely to encourage more infrastructural development with the road network linking the centre to Bulawayo being a likely phenomenon,” said Mandaza.
Online Reporter