The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
SERIOUS match-fixing allegations, endless disputes, walk-overs, dilapidated facilities and financially crippled clubs are some of the stuff usually associated with Zimbabwean football’s lower leagues, especially the dog-eat-dog Zifa Division Two.
Controversy, fierce battles and nail biting photo-finish marathons also characterize the feeder leagues to the four regional Division One Leagues – Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern.
The Northern Region Division One League has taken centre stage in recent seasons, thanks to its ability to source sound sponsorship, a committed and strict administration and a knack for producing champions who go on to withstand the heat in the Premier Soccer League.
Six teams from Harare, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West Provinces’ Division 2A and 2B Leagues, are promoted into the Northern Region Division One each year.
Cash-rich Simba Bhora of Shamva, formerly Simba Stars, and FC Charles of Glendale will play in the Northern Region Division One in 2020 after winning the Mashonaland Central Division 2A and 2B Leagues respectively.
Golden Eagles, FC Prisons and Arcadia United are in the running for pole position in Harare Province’s Division 2A while ZRP Harare and Commando are in a two horse-race in Division 2B, with four games to go.
Chinhoyi Stars lead the log in Mashonaland West’s Division 2A while Come Again of Kadoma sit on top of the Division 2B table, although a disciplinary hearing involving the latter and CUMA – who are second on the log and also from Kadoma – is still pending.
The match between Come Again and CUMA was abandoned in October, with the score at 1-1, after CUMA players were allegedly attacked by Come Again supporters at Rimuka in Kadoma.
Zifa Mashonaland West Province chairman Derrick Matapure decried the sorry state of affairs in the lower leagues.
“Walk-overs have been rampant in our province as clubs struggle to fund away trips in a hyperinflationary environment where fuel prices are changing regularly.
“We have even expelled some teams from the league for failing to fulfil fixtures,” said Matapure.
“We also have a pending decisive disciplinary case between CUMA and Come Again.”
Just like in the Mashonaland West Province, the Mashonaland Central Division 2B was also marred by disputes and rampant walk-overs before FC Charles of Glendale emerged winners.
“Walk-overs are common, some teams are struggling to stay viable,” said the league’s administrator, Prisca Ruwiza.
However, there were no disputes in Mashonaland Central 2A, where Simba Bhora romped to the podium after suffering one defeat the whole season.
Ambitious Shamva based side Simba Bhora, owned by 42-year-old Simba Ndoro, who at one time made a bid for financially crippled Premier Soccer League side Mushowani Stars, are already looking beyond the Northern Region Division One.
“Nothing will stop us from gaining promotion into the Premier Soccer League this time around,” Ndoro declared last week.
Despite playing in the unfashionable Division Two League, Simba Bhora managed to lure a number of Premier Soccer League players to the gold mining town of Shamva.
Former Dynamos striker Quality Kangadzi, Louis Matawu who made a name at Motor Action, Richard Kawondera who turned out for Dynamos and Triangle as well as veteran defender Brighton Tuwaya who played Champions League football with DeMbare in 2008, are some of the players at Simba Bhora.
“You can call us ambitious because we are determined to go all the way to the PSL. Remember we have been linked with buying Mushowani Stars, but as it is we can’t go that route given that Mushowani are in the relegation zone.
“Besides, it’s sweeter to do it on our own. We worked extra hard to get here, it’s never easy to get a point in Division Two but we have done it,” added Ndoro.
Ralph Kawondera guided Simba Bhora into Division One and there are chances his technical team could be beefed up.
Nothing seems to be impossible for Simba Bhora, who at one time tried to lure former CAPS United gaffer Lloyd Chitembwe, a few months before he went to Harare City.
“We are going to raid the market for players in January. We will even go for PSL players because we feel we can entice them,” said Ndoro.
Simba Bhora could have achieved Premiership status back in 2009 when they were still known as Simba Stars, but the Mashonaland Central side was charged for alleged match fixing, with their ticket going to the now defunct Douglas Warriors.
