Story by Mthokozisi Dube
THE Zimbabwe Football Association’s (ZIFA) plan to restructure the country’s football leagues has sparked a lively debate among administrators, former officials, and fans, revealing deep divisions over the proposal to expand the Premier Soccer League (PSL) from 18 to 20 teams and introduce a new National First Division.
While the creation of a National First Division has been widely welcomed by fans and administrators as a positive step towards strengthening the country’s football structure, the proposed expansion of the top-flight league has drawn criticism with concerns raised over logistics, fixture congestion, and financial sustainability.
The move to align the local league with international standards is not new, it has been discussed at length before, but has struggled to take off.
The elephant in the room remains club licensing, the absence of adequate sporting facilities, and the lack of a sound corporate sponsor to cushion teams against the costs of running professional clubs.
Former ZIFA vice president Tendai Madzorera, who once led the now-defunct AmaZulu, recalls taking the proposal to FIFA headquarters in Zurich back in 2009.
“I speak from an informed position, having served as ZIFA vice president and PSL chairperson. In 2010, we flew to Zurich at FIFA’s invitation and were advised to downsize the league to 14 teams, considering the country’s economy and football infrastructure. Fewer teams would mean stronger talent and a viable National First Division, but only if clubs met licensing requirements. That document died a natural death when new leadership came in. Our problem is a lack of continuity,” he said.
Another former ZIFA vice president, Omega Sibanda, believes the fundamentals are not in place.
“First things first, the 18 clubs are there by default. Expanding the teams is unconstitutional it needs an EGM to ratify that. We are not ready. PSL clubs are already sharing facilities; adding more teams will worsen the situation. Before anything, we must build proper infrastructure,” he said.
Former Southern Region Chairman Musa Mandaza fears the move could reverse the progress achieved under the regional league system.
“We are not yet ready. In 2009, we had a ZIFA constitution with provisions for a National League, but with conditions. We needed sponsorship to cover travel and accommodation. The regional leagues helped spread football to all corners of Zimbabwe, from Bikita Minerals and Chisumbanje Green Fuel to new PSL teams from Marondera and Mount Darwin. That was progress we can’t afford to undo,” he said.
On social media, the debate is heating up, with many fans saying the new National First Division could “bridge the gap” between grassroots and top-flight football, but expanding the PSL “without money, stadiums or sponsors” is being called a “recipe for chaos.”
Others say the focus should be on enforcing club licensing and developing infrastructure before any structural changes.
ZIFA is mulling creating a National First Division that will be the second tier behind the PSL with the already existing four Division One Leagues remaining in place as the third tier of the football pyramid.
World over, the National First Division is the way football is approached, even in the region where successful countries like South Africa and Zambia all have a national second-tier competition.
