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Martin Chigondo

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Amateur Football Association has finally been granted promotional status with this year’s winners getting automatic qualification to the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Three League.

Previously teams had to apply to the provincial leadership for admission into the third tier league.

Speaking during a kit donation ceremony by Lion west north company to Unity Village Football Club at Archers Sports Club last week, Zifa Bulawayo Province boss Washington Chimanda said Bafa leadership’s request for a promotional status had been granted.

“We’ve agreed, following a request by Bafa through their chairman (Chris Mutungwazi) that with effect from 2015, a team that wins the Bafa championship will gain automatic entry to our Division Three League,” said Chimanda.

Bafa is a Zifa affiliate and its leaders sit on the Zifa Assembly.

Unity Village, who have been playing social football since their formation in 2004, are now a full member of Bafa with Mutungwazi revealing that the team had fully paid its affiliation and player registration fees.

“We want to thank Unity Village for the confidence shown in our league, I however want to warn them that this is now an organised form of football with rules and regulations to be followed, its no longer just social,” said Mutungwazi.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zifa national vice president, Omega Sibanda said the route taken by the club was a sign of better things to come adding that they needed to be inducted in organised football management.

He advised them to have a proper management structure and acquaint themselves with the rules of football.

“Most of you will not be playing in the league because of your age but I want to encourage you to seek administrative posts in football, be it Bafa, province or even the region,” said Sibanda.

Unity Village manager Martin Chigondo said they were aiming at premiership status in year 2020 having been inspired by Bulawayo City Football Club.

“It might look impossible but we know it isn’t, our sights are on premiership by year 2020,” said the manager.

He said they will be using Archers ground for their home matches and revealed that they will soon drill a borehole as well as spruce up the grounds.