The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
SOUTHERN Region clubs have called for the reduction in match officials fees for the coming season citing financial constraints.
The call was made during the Southern Region annual general meeting that was held in Bulawayo yesterday. In an interview after the meeting, chairman, Musa Mandaza said clubs cited financial difficulties saw match officials fees as one area they could ask for a concession.
Referees fees are pegged at $220 for Division One clubs and the home team being responsible for the payment in addition to travelling expenses.
Each club in the 18-team league would need an annual budget of $3 740, making it one of the biggest expenses for the clubs, who do not receive any price money but only play for the championship.
Mandaza said although clubs did not say they want the fees reduced to how much, they will be forwarding the request to the Zimbabwe Referees’ Committee and are hoping for a positive response.
Mandaza said the league has been scheduled to tentatively kick off on the weekend of 7-8 April with fixtures being made after teams have paid their affiliation fees.
He said teams have been given a up to 14 March to pay their affiliation and registration fees for this season while those who have not cleared last year’s debt should do so by that time.
“We want to start the season with only committed teams as we do not want a repeat of last year’s scenario where out fixtures had bys. We want to know those who can meet their financial obligations and then we do fixtures after. We have agreed on an 18-team league but that will depend on how teams respond to that deadline that has been agreed to,” said Mandaza.
Treasurer, Bryton Malandule said there are no changes to last year’s budget hence affiliation fees have remained stagnant. Clubs will fork out $2 000 for affiliation while new ones pay $2 500, which has to be paid in full before the league starts.
“Last year we allowed teams to pay at least half then settle the remainder later but some clubs did not pay as agreed hence this year we have resolved that clubs will fork out the full amount before the season starts,” he said.
Some clubs were reportedly turned into observers due to failure to pay affiliation fees in full. Sources said Chiwororo, Moto Moto, ZRP Bulawayo and Bosso90 were given observer status for the amounts they owe.
Meanwhile, Plumtree could feature in the venue of the Southern Region League after teams agreed to allow Mainline to have their home ground in the border town. Mandaza said the move would be subject to the approval of their preferred home ground by Zifa inspection grouping, the First Instance Body.
