Moses Madyira
CHIKOMBA—Dreams of Division 1 football in Chivhu have been shattered after the ZIFA Eastern Region Soccer League board revoked their provisional acceptance of Chivhu FC.
The board had offered Chivhu FC a provisional slot after receiving a letter from the mother body, ZIFA to avail four teams to participate in the National League, but the idea collapsed along the way.
The National League was meant to accommodate four teams from the four regions, Central, Southern, Eastern and Northern Division 1 teams in the country as opposed to the current set up.
Earlier this year, Chivhu residents were thrilled by the prospect of watching their local team playing Division 1 football after the team was given a provisional acceptance into the second tier league after finishing as runners up in Division 2 last year.
Chivhu FC would have become the first team from Mashonaland East Province to play in the elite Castle Premier League if they were to finish the season on top.
That hunger for Division 1 football in the transit town saw hordes of residents joining hands in donating funds to help the team meet staggering financial costs of the league. ZANU PF ;ed the way by pouring US$2 500 cash for affiliation fee.
The money was handed over by Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee chairman Venon Muringani at a meeting which was held at Chivhu Hotel earlier this year where the team’s executive members availed their annual budget to stakeholders.
The Midweek Watch is in possession of a letter sent to Chivhu FC chairman, Marufu Madhuviko from the ERSL notifying him that the board has failed to secure a place for the team.
The letter also says this was due to the natural death of the proposed National Soccer League.
“The ERSL Executive regrets to inform you that we failed to secure a place for you to play in the ERSL for the 2023 soccer season. ZIFA had directed the Region to avail 4 teams to participate in the National League which prompted us to accept your request provisionally however, the proposed National League died a natural death,” reads the letter.
Chivhu FC Chairman expressed disappointment at the development saying they were only briefed of the development just a week before league games resumed.
“I can confirm that we are no longer going to participate in the eastern Region Division 1 Soccer League. We only realized that after we saw our team not appearing on fixtures and after doing enquiries we were told that our slot has been withdrawn.
“We have informed some of our stakeholders while we are waiting for official channels to officially communicate to other stakeholders. Everyone is disappointed, from stakeholders to general fans, we are heartbroken.
“We did not expect that from the board, we had invested so much for Division 1 soccer league, we had already recruited players. We have requested reimbursement of our affiliation fee,” said Madhuviko.
Chivhu FC will begin their Division 2 league season by hosting Beatrice Chiefs at Garwe Stadium this weekend.
