The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
NINE teams — including newly formed Manica Diamonds and popular Mutare junior football powerhouse La Sakubva — have been invited to partake in the 2018 Eastern Region Division One League.
Exorbitant costs of running a football team have seen Eastern Region Division One League authorities resorting to inviting clubs to participate rather than depend on demotion from the Premiership and promotion from Division Two.
Unlike in the past when teams used to play in the league because of merit, in recent years, for a club to join the Eastern Region Division One League it would only needed to show its capability to meet the financial expenses of taking part in the league.
An average Division one club needs around $100 00 to comfortably sail through the season and cater for costs incurred in camping, travelling, player bonuses and others logistics.
A new club in the Eastern Region Division One League needs $3 000 affiliation fees as well as $600 player registration fees and $250 technical membership registration fees.
The other teams that were invited to join the league include Masvingo United which was promoted to Division Two Masvingo province, United Lions that was relegated at the end of the Eastern Region Division One 2017 season, Great Zimbabwe University which was playing social soccer together with Gutu based 011, Real Cops promoted from Mashonaland East, BH Academy of Mashonaland East and Greenfuel.
Zifa Eastern Region secretary Simba Wisdom confirmed the invitation of the nine.
Wisdom said some clubs that were part of the league last season are likely not to participate in the league this season.
“We invited 12 teams for some interviews since we strongly believe that some of the teams that were part of the league last season are likely not to participate in the league this season.
“We have already heard of three teams that we cannot mention by name but our understanding is that they are unable to partake in the league this year.
“Therefore, we invited the 12 for some interviews and were satisfied with the nine out of the 12 we invited. We gave them February 28 as their deadline to pay up their dues to the region and officially be part of the league.
“It is a challenge that we have as region. We have so many teams that are owned by individuals and each time the individual feels he no longer wants to sponsor football they just withdraw at time without notice,” said Wisdom.
