Social soccer only for Chipinge, Chimanimani
CHIPINGE urban and Chimanimani have largely remained in the doldrums of competitive football and folks in the south eastern border areas are content with social soccer as a form of football entertainment and wellness.
Even though GreenFuel FC in Chipinge South was recently promoted into the Premiership and Rusitu Tigers promoted into the Eastern Region Division One League, there has not been mainstream competitive league football for most parts of Chipinge and Chimanimani districts.
In Chipinge, a vibrant social soccer league with teams such as Justice Lions for local legal practitioners, Cabanna, AFM, Chipinge Academy, Metro Peach, N Richards, army outfit, Three Three, Shooting Stars and former Division One outfit, Dairibord — is providing football entertainment.
ZIFA Chipinge-Chimanimani chairman, Innocent Mlilo said they only have social soccer leagues around the two districts.
“We only have social soccer leagues in Chipinge, whereby teams come up with a local league and play against each other in different areas of Chipinge and Chimanimani.
“This has been the trend since the demise of Chipinge Stars, especially for Chipinge urban. Lack of corporate partnership is
the major contributing factor as it is more financially demanding to be part of a Division Three League.
“However, the social soccer leagues, especially the one we have in Chipinge has been running smoothly with teams adhering to the rules and regulations of the league and the game in general,” said Mlilo.
In areas such as Southdown and Ratelshook, teams have been playing socially at a local level and the same with Chibuwe, Chipangayi, Chisumbanje and Checheche areas.
Teams in areas such as Birchenough Bridge, Musani, Tanganda, Mutema and Nyanyadzi have also been playing against each other mainly at social soccer levels.
The same also goes for teams in Chimanimani in areas that include Chikukwa, Machongwe, Biriiri as well as in Rusitu Valley where teams in Vhimba, Kurwaisimba, Kopa, Dzingire, Mutsvangwa, Moandwa Junction and Paidamoyo areas set up local social soccer leagues.
Mt Selinda, Chikore Days and Hill areas in Chipinge are also doing the same thing.
Mlilo said they have plans to morph the social soccer leagues into, at least, a Division Three League so that those who cannot afford the demands in Division Three can remain in social soccer league.
“Plans are afoot to have a Division Three League and those who are not able to take part in it will remain in local social soccer leagues. We hope it will work out and that does not mean killing social soccer leagues because they have been providing football entertainment in their respective areas,” he said.