Nhongo pleads for Div 1 football return

Sport
FORMER Caps United defender Asani Nhongo has called on Zifa to initiate the speedy return of Division One football.

BY TERRY MADYAUTA

FORMER Caps United defender Asani Nhongo has called on Zifa to initiate the speedy return of Division One football.

While a lot of effort has  been invested to ensure the return of topflight football, Nhongo feels the second tier league has been sidelined with over a year now without any activity.

Since March last year, clubs in the four second tier leagues have not convened even for training, a development that has left some of them almost defunct.

With players free to join clubs of their choice after their contracts lapsed last year when COVID-19 largely halted everything, some clubs risk losing all players to other clubs.

And Nhongo, who plays for Sheasham FC and is at the tail end of his career, pleaded for their plight to be considered.

“Here in Zimbabwe most of the players depend on football only, so COVID-19 has affected us a lot.

“We are facing many challenges including financial since we are not paying and have families to look after.

“As professional footballers, we depend on salaries. But since the lockdown started last year in March, we haven’t been paid a cent so I prefer to play money games to earn some money and to keep fit.

“With organised football suspended in Zimbabwe due to COVID-19, the country’s footballers are now playing money games,” Nhongo said.

The former Young Warriors star also revealed that some of his colleagues were resorting to piece jobs as their cash-strapped clubs were no longer able to meet their financial needs.

  • Follow Terry on Twitter @madyautatpm