The Zimbabwean soccer deteriorated when ZIFA unprofessionally divided the country into four Division One league. Competition was reduced to regional level instead of national.
The creation of four Division One leagues had to accommodate below standard teams as the aim and objective was to construct a league with required number of teams.
A national Division One league as was in the early 1990s was competitive, tough and entertaining. A promoted side was more or less to the level of Premier league teams. The current situation is totally different.
It has been proved that the promoted sides are relegated after one year of humiliation, struggling and hammering in the Premier league. A promoted side must be ready for the elite league. This current four Division One leagues have proved the opposite.
It must only be Zimbabwe in SADC with such a poor soccer structure. This is the reason our soccer players are finding it very difficult to compete in regional leagues.
Zimbabweans players were known to be signed by Kaizer Chief, Sundowns , Orlando Pirates etc the big teams in South African leagues alas today only Divine Lunga is a bench warmer at one of these big teams. This is because our Division One league is not competitive. If it was competitive it would have nurtured players who would be signed by Premier league clubs.
National Division One was a conveyor belt of talent for Premier league clubs. Premier League clubs today are recycling over aged players because ZIFA destroyed the conveyor belt. Remember Moses Chunga, Tauya Murehwa, Watson Muhoni, Harrington Shereni etc were all recruited from Division One league. They were ripe for Premier league football. The Division One league was very tough .
The incoming ZIFA president must assure the nation that Division One football will be national. A ZIFA Cup will be reintroduced. It must involve all affiliated clubs.
🇿🇼☝🏿🇿🇼 Patriotic Papa JC speaks soccer
