The new Zifa board is said to be considering to establish one National Division One league and do away with the current setup which has four second-tier leagues.
Considering how some clubs in some of the Division One leagues have been struggling to pay affiliation fees, the collapsing of the four leagues into one is a noble idea.
Last week, Centenary United was booted out of Northern Region Division One for “failing to meet its financial obligations” and inability to demonstrate the capacity to meet future obligations in the 2025 season.
The league had extended the deadline for the payment of the fees but was left with no choice but to dismiss the club after it failed to raise the fees in the grace period.
In 2023, Concession was expelled by the same league for failing to meet financial obligations as well as failure to fulfil some fixtures due to a cash crunch.
In 2022, the Central Region Division One had to suspend fixtures in a bid to force clubs to pay affiliation fees.
It was running a 14-team league, which had shrunk due to clubs' failure to meet their obligations.
Days ago, it was reported that Banket United was finding difficulty in raising funds to affiliate with the league and faced the grim prospect of dismissal.
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One of Zimbabwe’s oldest clubs, Zimbabwe Saints, was expelled from the Southern Region Division One also for failing to pay affiliation fees and to fulfil fixtures in 2023.
They have been expelled again ahead of the new season for the same reasons.
All these cases demonstrate that all is not well in Division One. The cases buttress the need for a single Division One league, which will be more competitive and comprising clubs that are adequately resourced.
If a club cannot pay affiliation fees and fails to travel within its province, why should it be allowed to fight for a ticket to the Premier League, where it will be forced to travel long distances and where its budget will be much higher?
Some of the regions, particularly the Central Region, are cash-strapped due to lack of sponsorship with club living from hand to mouth.
A single league will be competitive and able to attract the sponsorship needed to oil the game.
The competition that comes with having one league better prepares the teams for the rigours of the Premier League.
We implore the football administrators to pursue the idea of a single Division One league with the regions managing the third tier level downwards.
