There is life in our Premiership H-METRO

FOR years, we could see a trend where it was clear that there was a significant decline in interest, among the fans, in our domestic Premiership.

We could tell that something was changing and fewer fans still had an attachment to our top-flight league.

Many of the loyal fans of the league had shifted their attention, and loyalty, to the English Premiership.

They now had more interest in Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City than in Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United.

They could even tell you the formations which these English giants use, the latest news from their camps and the stars who were emerging in their ranks.

They didn’t know that there is an Elton Chakona at Dynamos who won the Rookie of the Year in the PSL last season and is rising through the ranks and could be a big name in the future.

It didn’t help that the local giants have been pushed into a shade by the dominance of the platinum sides, who have won the last five league championships.

To their credit, the Highlanders fans remained loyal to their team while Dynamos and CAPS United have lost a big chunk of their support base.

Refreshingly, we have seen renewed interest in our domestic Premiership this season and that is good for our football.

The huge number of travelling fans who converged at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva to watch the match between Simba Bhora and Dynamos on Sunday was quite a refreshing sight.

We are told that some Dynamos fans travelled from places like Mutare and Bulawayo to watch the match which the home team won 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Walter Musona.

We also have good numbers of travelling fans when Chegutu Pirates are playing their matches and we can only wonder what could have been story if they were hosting their games at Pfupajena.

The emergence of clubs like Simba Bhora is slowly changing the landscape in the PSL and when we have a club, which promises its players cars if they win the league title, you know that our local league is now on the right path.

It creates excitement and it also inspires the players to play at a high level so that they win their matches and, God willing, they end up as champions and get their cars.

This is the kind of empowerment we want to see in our football.

Already, Musona has been given a car by one of the directors of Simba Bhora, Brighton Ushendibaba of Pan Jap Motors, for his excellent performances in the team’s colours this season.

We have seen Khama Billiat being feted with all kinds of gifts at Yadah and we have seen a new stadium being built and a number of stadiums being renovated.

All this is progress and our Premiership is breathing and the so-called small clubs are shaking it in a very good way.

Football is an important sport in our country.