By: Kudakwashe Kutinyo
BANO SPORTS REPORTER
THE continuous collapse of football teams in Zimbabwe has drawn the attention of soccer legends and analysts who urge that the ZIFA must come up with lasting viable solutions in order to save the game of football.
Financial crisis before and during the course of the season has been pointed as one of the main reason that have led to the disturbance collapse of local football teams.
Speaking during an interview, soccer legend Boneface Nyongo Tembo who played his trade with Chipangano and Njube Sundowns suggested that the local football body must bring in some sponsors.
"I think ZIFA board should look for good sponsors. They can approach big players for example talk to Econet and MWOS SPORTS BETTING company".
He also added that the mother body conduct a research and implement new ideas that suit modern football.
"They should go to SAFA consult them on how do they manage their football because basically in football there are no short cuts, money is needed to pay the players and technical staff as well. You need good equipment in the field of play", he added.
"Definitely the rates are high for affiliations, referees should have their association which will pay them like in South Africa where teams are not asked to pay. Even the fields are expensive for other teams to book the stadiums".
"I think they should come with a payment plan for teams who can't manage to affiliate then it will be easy we should copy our neighboring South Africa a good example were they are running their leagues smoothly so they should send ZIFA board members to learn how to manage modern football", said Tembo Nyongo.
The game of football has seen a lot of football teams sink to the ground and later vanishing while others fail to pitch for games, paying referees and booking stadiums.
Soccer legend Mayfield Daka highlighted the poor branding of lower leagues in Zimbabwe and high flying rates set by the local football board.
"There are a lot of challenges which teams in Zimbabwe are facing resulting in collapse after starting good projects for example would Highlanders and Dynamos survive if we had to remove Sakunda in the picture what more small teams".
"Look at the branding of Southern lower division there is totally nothing to play for , after having paid US$2000, Referee US$240 per game, Away US$ 400 to $1000 before allowances and salaries".
"In neighbouring countries such as Namibia, South Africa,Mozambique there are grants where as in Zimbabwe there are no grants given to football teams", said Mr Daka.
Meanwhile this year alone relegated Bulawayo City FC failed to register for the Division one league and have since shifted their attention to junior football and filling up the division two spot.
Elsewhere last year's division two champions Mzilikazi FC who had secured an automatic promotion have not confirmed their presence in this year's Southern Region Division one league same goes to runners up How Mine and prison side Khami FC have since joined the division two league.
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