ZIFA Southern Region Soccer League chairman Chris Mtungwazi says the region’s goal is to produce teams capable of sustaining themselves in the Premier Soccer League upon promotion.
Mtungwazi said this at the launch of the Southern Region Dibula Matibula Top Four tournament featuring Hwange, Bulawayo City, Nkayi United and Casmyn football clubs.
The tournament will be played at White City Stadium on Saturday and Sunday as a precursor to the league programme set to begin next week after the region’s annual general meeting.
Mtungwazi, through his company TCI International, together with Vaiton Refrigeration and Pacific Breeze, is sponsoring the competition with US$2 000 and a kit for the winners.
“We are hopeful that teams are going to excel, they are going to do well and you are aware this is the top four, excluding the league champions (Bulawayo Chiefs) and we are hoping that teams will play well and inspire other teams in the coming year to also want to be part of this team,” Mtungwazi said.
“We are hopeful also that going forward, we have a good standard of the game so that we produce teams that are able to sustain themselves in the Premier League.
“To ensure that we don’t have teams going up and down in your way that our region is going to take fewer teams.
“But we are hoping that this tournament will encourage other teams to aspire to participate in the top four in the next coming season.”
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Vaiton Refrigeration owner Carlos Zidya urged players to stay away from drug and substance abuse.
“The temptation may be huge, but the results of such are too dangerous,” he said.
“Careers and livelihoods have been lost because of drugs.
“To our business community, the government is creating a conducive environment for sport to thrive, but the private sector must be the engine of growth.”
Zidya cited businesspeople Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya, Wicknell Chivayo and Shepherd Chahwanda for investing heavily in football.
The semi-finals on Saturday will see Nkayi United face Casmyn in the first match, with Bulawayo City taking on Hwange in the second encounter.
The final will be played on Sunday.
The runners-up will receive US$1 500, while the third-placed team will get US$1 000 and the fourth-placed side US$500.
The top goalscorer will pocket US$150, while the player, goalkeeper and coach of the tournament will each receive US$100.
