Bulilima, Mangwe and Plumtree districts last week approached Zifa in a bid to have separate Division Two and Three football leagues this year affiliated to the Southern Region established in the area.
This followed a stakeholders’ meeting held at Kombani Lodge in Plumtree last month.
Through interim committee member Faith Silandulo Dube, they last week made an application addressed to the Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze — premised on reasoning that being placed in the Central Region as per football boundaries, it was financially illogical to participate in football in the country.
The interim committee was appointed following a football indaba held at Kombani on December 3, where local stakeholders invited Zifa vice-president (administration) Ndumiso Gumede and Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele.
“Plumtree and the two Bulilima and Mangwe districts are located in Matabeleland South, and hence according to our football boundaries and geography, they are expected to play in the Zifa Matabeleland South Province with most teams being based in Gwanda, Beitbridge etc.
“This therefore means most teams would be forced to either pass through Bulawayo Province to play their games in Gwanda, Beitbridge and other areas in Matabeleland South or play as guests in the Zifa Bulawayo Province League where they are forced to set up their home grounds away from home in Bulawayo.
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“This therefore is financially draining and boundaries are discouraging all good intents from individuals and companies who are interested in developing the game of football in Zimbabwe,” reads part of the application, signed by Dube.