The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
REGIONAL football administration body Zifa Manicaland have slashed their affiliation fees by more than half and further subdivided Division Two and Division Three leagues in a move aimed at cushioning affiliate clubs from biting costs of running a team.
Zifa Manicaland has come under severe criticism in the past for exorbitant affiliation fees that even saw splinter football leagues being formed by teams in different areas within the province.
For example, a team in Chipinge or Nyanga needed $700 to be part of the Zifa Manicaland Division Two League apart from the transport, food, player allowances and other ancillary costs a club needs in its daily operations.
As if that was enough, a club would need to fork out more money in player registration fees at $5 per player while match official fees were pegged at $70 that the home team would also be expected to foot.
Clubs in Division Three needed $300 for affiliation fees, $3 player registration fees and $50 for match officials for the team that would be playing at home.
However, the new price list released by the Zifa Manicaland administration this week revealed that teams that aspire to play in the Division Two League will now be expected to pay just $200 from $700 while a $3 player registration fee will be charged per player $2 lesser than the $5 they used to charge in the same league.
Match officials that used to get $70 will now be paid $20.
For Division Three, clubs are now expected to pay $100 from $300 affiliation fees and a dollar for player registration fees from $3 while $20 will be the amount for match official who used to get $50.
Zifa Manicaland chairman Kuziwa Nyabeze confirmed the latest developments.
“I think we have finally made a decision that was long overdue. Things are tight for everyone owing to the prevailing harsh economic conditions. No one is being spared so who are we to pretend like we are not seeing the situation on the ground.
“It is against this background that we have decided to cut the affiliation fees by more than half and also cut on several other costs so that we let football be played professionally at the cheapest possible cost.
In the same spirit, we have also reduced the distances that team travel by localizing the Division Two and Division Three leagues. Winners from the localized leagues then engage in play offs for promotion into a superior league,’ said Nyabeze. Mutare will have its own Division Two League so are smaller areas like Rusape, Nyanga, Checheche and Chipinge/Chimanimani.
Division Two leagues will also be formed in different areas around the province.
Currently the Chipinge Chimanimani DivisionTwo League is running with six teams while the Mutare version of the same is running with five clubs only.
Teams have been shying away from regulates Zifa Division Two Division Three Leagues owing to prohibitive costs and the latest move is likely to attract more affiliates for the struggling regional football administration body.
