Lovemore Dube
THE Zifa Southern Region will have its annual general meeting in Bulawayo on 22 February to discuss what should turn out to be one of the closely fought regional championship races.
Eric Tafadzwa Mutowa, the region’s vice- chairman confirmed on Friday that the meeting date and venue had been set and they were looking forward to a great season.
“We will meet on 22 February to discuss our calendar and other issues. The league programme will be key on the day.
“There is a lot of excitement about this year’s competition as it promises a lot of fireworks which is good for the game.
“As management we are there to promote good competition and we are glad 2024 was smooth sailing without the headaches of unfulfilled fixtures. Every team was committed to Fair Play and promotion of good competition,” said Mutowa from Victoria Falls.
Mutowa said they were looking at all clubs paying their affiliation fees before the start of the season. He said failure to do so has always been an indicator of things to come.
“In most instances the red flag is failure at the beginning of the year to pay affiliation fees. We want financially balanced clubs that will last the race and ensure champions win on the field not through ‘gift points.’ We urge all our clubs to pay their fees and we are not backtracking, any team that does not pay its dues will not play in the league this time around,” said Mutowa.
The Zifa Southern Region has in the past faced a situation where some clubs, upon realising that they are out of the Premiership promotion race and are safe from relegation, resorted to walkovers to save money deliberately.
However, this season might go down in history as the most competitive league in recent times if the line-up of teams is anything to go by.
While in the past, just relegated teams from the Premier League have been favourites to bounce back, this time around there are three of them Arenel, Bulawayo Chiefs and Hwange while in the mix are also teams like Casmyn, Nkayi United, Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe Saints and Adachi who made it into the top eight last season.
No one can discount Talen Vision and Zebra Revolution.
Speaking about the competition this year, Mutowa said: “We are very excited about 2025, we have a very good line up of teams ready to fight for promotion and we are confident there will be fireworks.
Unlike in the past where there have been favourites, this time around it looks an open race with many teams capable of winning the title.
A look at the teams
Adachi
The Adrian Mtungwazi owned side which is managed by losing Zifa board member Tizirayi Luphahla, did not explode last season when expected to. Finances were said to be the problem by both technical team and players. With a rising coach like Johannes Ngodzo, they may be among the season’s favourites if they stay intact with funding flowing for essentials.
Arenel
There has been silence in their camp and it remains unclear whether they will be taking part in the league. They have had challenges with player incentives in the past even when in Division One in 2023. Philani “Beefy” Ncube has dumped the side for Zimbabwe Saints and a number of their players are believed to be headed to other teams.
Bulawayo Chiefs
Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, the former Zifa technical director is now the club coach and is assisted by Bekithemba Ndlovu. The return of Kelvin Madzongwe, Arthur Musiiwa and arrival of other decently talented players will boost their squad.
They look the team to beat this season and the sponsoring company appears to be back in business judging from the off-season activity the club is having.
Bulawayo City
Last season they bought their way into Division One. Started off badly but finished strongly with Mbongeni Minezhi taking the top goalscorers gong with 17 goals. They are a good side with some promising youngsters who are hungry for success.
Casmyn
They managed a top three finish last season and looked solid in all departments with players with the right big physical built not to be bullied on the field. Based at Turk Mine in Bubi District they need to look at the bigger picture that football is business and some day may land in the Premiership by promotion and not by invitation which became the scenario once ZPC Hwange did not take the Premiership franchise. They need to invest in infrastructure and live the “big football” dream.
Casmyn will once again be the team chasing glory.
Mainline
Paul Moyo who is part of the technical team at this Plumtree Town based side, would love one major triumph of his career. That of taking the club to the Premiership a first by a team from that border town. Only Black Horrors managed to play in the South Region in 1979 reaching the Chibuku Trophy semis where they lost to eventual winners Caps United 2-0. There is so much talent in both Bulilima and Mangwe and locals are hungry to see their own make a mark as did Lemmy Mnenekwa, Grey Ncube and Onias Musana.
Talen Vision
They are owned by Khumbulani Nkomo — a football passionate miner with a dream to take Premiership football to Filabusi. He has in his wisdom engaged Kudzi Mhandire who guided Arenel to the Premiership in 2023. He then did not have the requisite papers to sit on the bench but qualifies to coach in Division One. Mhandire is good at coming up with tactics once he has the right material at his disposal. In his first full year at Talen Vision having joined mid-season, Mhandire will have his own players on show and may prove a dangerous card.
Hwange
They will always be favourites in the region whenever in Division One. Barely have they survived beyond 12 months in the league. This season will not be different with veteran gaffer Rodwell Dhakama, a great schemer with players Like Prosper Mathe, Clairvet Tshuma and Nedrick Madeya, they are the bookmakers’ favourites. They would have to guard against complacency.
Golden Lions
They were promoted from the Matabeleland North Division Two League. Club boss Macmillan “Kima” Sibanda says they want to survive the tide and take the challenge with each new season. The Victoria Falls side is in the hunt for a sponsor and are talking to former Zimbabwe international Obert Moyo to come on board as the gaffer. They have attracted the youthful city talent in Victoria Falls and may not make much of an impact but their derby against Victoria Falls City will see Chinotimba full to the rafters.
Victoria Falls Herentals
Victoria Falls now christened Victoria Falls Herentals will be a much stronger side following the arrival of the Harare-based educational institution. They will be part sponsors of the club and with the financial injection, means their players will have incentives to drive them to do better.
Indlovu Iyanyathela
They seem to be among those that will be there for the numbers as they have since the 1980s. They lack the financial muscle to compete with the rest and just provide a wellness platform and fitness for active members of the army in Bulawayo. While they may not be in the race but as always results against them have a telling effect on the destiny of the race.
In 2019 when all appeared set for Talen Vision to join the Premiership, Indlovu Iyanyathela beat them 2-0 to burst the bubble.
Black Rock
They were promoted from the Matabeleland North (Hwange) Division Two. Not much is known about them and may be out to fill the numbers like most of the clubs that have risen from the coal mining town.
Nust
Bubbling with confidence and enthusiasm, the students were colourful with their vociferous supporters in the Bulawayo Province Division Two. They have never been the best resourced but play for fun and may prove a team playing so well without anything to prove.
Eagle Life
Prophet Chiza has a dream with his project. The promotion of the club into the Premiership will be a fulfillment of a prophecy that is over a decade old. They were promoted from Division Two last season and used young players below the age of 20 under coach Philani Mabhena.
Zimbabwe Saints
They surprised even the most loyal when they allowed sanity to return to the fold and see unity prevail last season.
They managed to complete the season by going to each and every fixture. Tawanda Ruzive is now chairman and Philani “Beefy” Ncube the coach.
They appear to have the balance and desire to win the title and play Premiership football.
