Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE yo-yo approach in football administration in the country has reared its ugly head once again as the fraternity debates on the possible implementation of a single second-tier league instead of the current four regional Division One leagues.
News that ZIFA is considering having one nationwide Division One and scrapping the current four regional leagues that make up Division One, Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern, has sent tongues wagging in the corridor of football administration and among analysts of the game.
The vision is to have a well-sponsored and managed National Division One League, with top teams being promoted to the Premier League, while relegated teams head to the National Division One League.
However, the single national second-tier league has, not only been deliberated countless times before, but the issue also gives goose bumps to ZIFA regional leaders, whose powers will be usurped overnight if the move is actioned. Ideally, the fragmented competition structure of having four regions has its fair share of demerits.
The regionalisation of Division One leagues creates a fragmented competition structure, which may lead to disparities in competitive levels, refereeing standards and infrastructure.
There is increased administrative burden that comes with having four regions.
Managing four regional leagues necessitates a significant increase in administrative personnel, resources and logistics, which may strain ZIFA’s capacity.
It also has coordination and scheduling challenges.
Harmonising fixtures, results and promotions across four regional leagues poses significant coordination and scheduling challenges.
There are also financial complexities that come with having four regions.
This relates to issues to do with economic viability — sustainability of four regional leagues is contingent upon the availability of financial resources, which may be scarce, particularly in regions with limited economic activity.
Resource allocation is also a challenge that comes with having four regions. ZIFA now need to allocate resources efficiently across four regional leagues, ensuring equitable distribution of funds, equipment, and expertise.
Sponsorship and revenue generation for the second tier leagues is a challenge in their fragmented form.
Attracting sponsors and generating revenue may be more challenging for regional leagues, potentially affecting their financial stability, never mind the recent Pacific Storm marriage with the Eastern Region that came after so long, valuable as it is.
The Eastern Region, for example, did not have a proper sponsor from Day One despite producing some of the best talent in the country – Obadiah Sarupinda, Lloyd Mutasa, Webster Kurwaisimba, Friday Phiri, Blessing Makunike, Eddie Dube, Nelson Bandura, Farai Banda, Liberty Chakoroma, Mavhuna Mudare, Blessing Gumiso, Lazarus Muhoni, renowned match officials such as Kennias Marange, Masimba Chihowa, Wallace Zimunya, Lazarus Dirwai, and coaches such as the late Jimmy Malomo, Rodwell Dhlakama, Timothy Masachi, and Peter Masibera among others.
Technical and competitive complexities are issues that beg for revisiting the fragmented regional approach. It is difficult to maintain competitive balance for the four regions.
There is need to ensure competitive balance across four regional leagues, as disparities in team strength may lead to predictable outcomes and diminished competitiveness within each of the four regions.
Talent identification and development is greatly affected by this fragmented approach.
The regional structure may create challenges in identifying and developing talented players, as opportunities for exposure and competition may be limited.
Refereeing and match official standards are negatively affected by having four regions in place.
Maintaining consistent refereeing and match official standards across four regional leagues is essential, as inconsistencies may impact competition integrity.
Last season’s Scotland-Karoi United saga was a storm in the cup, and there is no need to explain further.
There are glaring governance and regulatory complexities that come with having four regions.
ZIFA needs to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework to govern four regional leagues, ensuring compliance with FIFA, CAF, and national regulations.
It is a fact that in the regions, a lot of teams play their football in open and hard surfaces, and this compromise the standard of football because Division One is the next highest level after Premier League, hence the moniker: “vanochinjira pasi pemuti”, as if that is the good standard of doing things in the second-tier league.
In South Africa, for example, where there is a national league for Division One, it ensures that correct teams are promoted, and one does not see teams being promoted and relegated the same year like the norm in Zimbabwe.
This is evident when one analyses how many teams were promoted from 2010 up to date and how many were relegated.
One wonders where is the consistency in the development of players and brand enhancement by teams.
Dispute resolution is a challenge with the fragmented Division One leagues approach.
Effective dispute resolution mechanisms must be established to address potential conflicts, appeals, and disciplinary matters across the four regional leagues.
It took three months for the promotion of Scotland last season owing to such issues regarding match manipulation and conflicts of interest between the region leadership structures and their teams which resulted in matches being awarded in controversial circumstances.
The 2023 Tenax-Bikita Minerals promotion saga is also a living example.
Transparency and accountability can be enhanced by having a single Division One.
ZIFA will need to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of four regional leagues, including financial management, competition organisation, and decision-making processes.
What a cumbersome and resource draining structure that can be solved by having just a single National First Division One.
In summation, if the issue of regional leagues is done away with, Zimbabwe is very certain that such things will never happen by any measure of imagination.
