ASHER MOYO
SPORTS REPORTER
MASVINGO CITY-ZIFA Masvingo Province 2023 champions, Bikita Rulers FC failed to turn up for the mandatory pre-season Eastern Region Soccer League induction workshop.
The pre-season induction workshop was held last week on Saturday at Flamboyant Hotel and was attended by all new comers to the Eastern Region Division One except the Masvingo Provincial champions, Bikita Rulers FC.
A total of nine teams including the relegated Chiredzi Stars were also part of the proceedings on Saturday.
The Regional Administrator Fungai Munyoro- Chingaira said the region is yet to decide on which teams will join the ERSL.
“We had our induction and interviews as per our 2024 road map. We had a total of nine teams which include Chisase FC, Rusununguko Academy FC, Chicken Inn FC, St Paul’s Musami FC, Destiny Stars FC, Chiredzi Stars FC, Chamupupuri Tigers FC, Great Zimbabwe University FC and Nyika FC.
“The only team which did not show up is Bikita Rulers who are the Masvingo Provincial champions.
”In the meantime we are still doing due diligence on these teams that applied and attended the induction workshop.
“We are checking on their status and capacity to play Division One football. By the end of this month, we would have made a decision.
“The reason why we are taking our time is that this time around we do not want a team that join us and play just a few games before folding. This will distort everything. We want a team which has capacity to go all the way,” she added.
When contacted by The Midweek Watch on why Bikita Rulers failed to attend the induction workshop, the team’s manager, Joshua Dzivakwi said the assigned their secretary who in turn sent someone who decided not to pitch up.
“I am very disappointed with what happened in our camp, the invitation for the induction workshop was very clear as it specified that, the treasurer, secretary or vice should attend and we assigned our secretary Chikozho, who decided not to attend without informing others or those who had assigned him.
“When I talked to him, he told me that he had a journey to Harare and he assigned someone who decided not to attend the induction workshop.
‘We are going to discuss the matter at Chief Marozva’s homestead as our patron tomorrow at 10am.
“I am likely to travel to Masvingo on Friday to present our case to the region’s secretariat, I am disappointed with the turn out of events after working so hard for the team since its formation in 2011 until now when we are in D1 and this happens,” said Dzivakwi who was seething with anger on the phone.
Meanwhile, Chingaira said ERSL will have a player registration course for club administrators’ this month end.
“The region will be training club administrators on player online registration. This course is a must attend course on January 27 here in Masvingo. On January 28, we will have team managers training for all our clubs. We are looking forward to a more exciting season this year hence all these trainings to ensure a flawless season,” said Chingaira.
According to the ERSL road map released last year, the 2024 season will kick off on April 6.
