The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE Zifa Southern Regions Area Zones have been restructured with the body now incorporating a host of social soccer leagues that has been operating independently.
Previously the arm of Zifa has mainly been operating as the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association, with the executive of the oldest league in the country representing the area zones.
However, a new structure has been created in the Southern Region that is now accommodating other leagues that include Bulawayo Social Soccer League (BSSL), Ntabazinduna League, Bulawayo Christian League and the Legends League.
Former Bafa vice-chairman, Charles Chunda is now in charge of Area Zones in the province.
BSSL organising secretary Jimias Cheteni, who was roped in as vice-chairman, said they are ready to build a new organisation that will encompass all social leagues.
“It is a welcome development because we are now officially under the auspices of Zifa, who are the custodians of football in the country and I believe this will have an impact on our game. “Organisationally, I think we are going to improve as we interact with the mother body we will certainly get guidelines on how to best manage the game and I believe this can be attractive to sponsors,” he said.
Cheteni said they are looking forward to creating relationships with other Zifa structures to enable them to widen their scope in the sport.
He added it would also be easier to monitor players who swing from top tier leagues to feature in social soccer league matches.
“The Zifa VP, (Omega Sibanda) has also spoken out about referees officiating at social soccer league matches in the mornings then later take charge of competitive league games and with us being part of Zifa we can now co-operate and ensure we can get work hand in hand to avoid this problem,” he said.
Chunda said they are likely to have a bigger Townshend and Butcher Trophy involving teams from the other leagues although they are still to come up with the finalities of the tournament, which is the oldest knock-out competition in the area zones.
He said they would be finalising the list of other members to be added to the executive.
