The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
FOOTBALL clubs under the armpit of the ZIFA Eastern Region are struggling to meet the costs of participating in league matches with five of Division One teams yet to pay their affiliation fees midway into the 2022 season.
In a statement, ZIFA Eastern Region chairman, Davison Muchena confirmed that five clubs are yet to pay a dime of the US dollar component of their affiliation fees.
“To all those with arrears on their subscriptions, kindly make your payments now to avoid unnecessary missing of fixtures.
“There are five teams that have not contributed a penny to the USD component as we approach the second round,” reads Muchena’s statement.
In the same statement, the ZIFA Eastern Region chairman also confirmed that the league matches are resuming this weekend after the midseason break.
A two-horse race for the title pitting pacesetters, GreenFuel and Mutare City Rovers is expected to enter its climax as the second half of the season matches unfold.
“I would like to take this opportunity to confirm that our fixtures resume this weekend starting on Week 18 of our fixtures. Clubs can start confirming their matches now.
“However, as the Eastern Region Board, we believe that all teams are now at the same level of competition and understanding of the laws of the game. We believe that the experience all teams had in the first round has been helpful,” reads the statement.
Muchena expressed hope that the refresher course on rules and regulations of competition will help ease challenges relating to conduct during the remaining half of the season.
“The refresher course we had in Masvingo together with our well defined Rules and Regulations must have been understood by now and it is our belief that the last part of our fixtures will be played in a professional manner with less squabbles than the first half.
“The board will implement the rules and regulations as they appear without fear or favour,” further reads the statement.
The regional Under-20 competition which begun a fortnight ago is expected to continue culminating in the selection of players who will square off with their Northern Region counterparts.
“We had a very good start of the Under-20 competition where teams battled it out in Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Lowveld.
“We would like to keep these teams busy, so kindly assist when we come to you asking for space for them to curtain raise on your games. This is the only way for them to learn the trade,” wrote Muchena.
The Triangle-based football administrator urged clubs to observe tenets of Fair Play in the remaining half of the season.
“Lastly, as we enter our final fixtures, the competition will be higher. Expectations will be higher.
“Fighting for promotion will be intense. Fighting off relegation will be fierce. Basically stakes will be higher starting this week until we finish.
“We wish you all promotion and good lucky in your endevours. Let us be as professional as ever. We know that you are very good, so let us show the world what we are made of,” reads Muchena’s statement.
