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Musa Mandaza

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
FORGOTTEN former Bulawayo soccer giants Zimbabwe Saints’ hopes of crawling their way back to the topflight have been dealt a body blow following the expulsion of former champions Quelaton and Trumus from the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League.

Chikwata, as Saints were fondly known by their band of supporters, had been touted to take over Quelaton or Trumus’ franchise, but they couldn’t reach an agreement.

Zimbabwe Saints now play in the unfashionable Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province’s Division Two League where they have failed to fulfil their opening two league games.

If Saints do not fulfil this weekend’s fixture, they will be expelled, which would virtually mark the end of Chikwata and relegate them to the country’s soccer dustbin.

Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza said Quelaton and Trumus had technically been expelled from the league after missing three consecutive games.

“Quelaton and Trumus are out of our league because they didn’t fulfil the opening three games. The rules are clear, once you miss three consecutive games, you’re kicked out of the league. We’re now reverting to 16 teams from 18. We had hoped they come on board but it’s too late to invite other clubs now,” said Mandaza.

He said Quelaton and Trumus will now have to start from Division Three if they still harbour any football interest.

Mandaza also said they would lobby the national football mother body to outlaw “franchise renting”, which Quelaton did when they gave Nust their slot two years ago.

“Those teams have to restart from the bottom because the franchises are not theirs, but belong to the region. For purposes of fair play, we’re going to ask the national association to bar clubs from selling franchises because that disadvantages other teams,” said Mandaza.