THE fate of two promoted teams Whawha and Flame Lilly, both sponsored by the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS), will be known tomorrow when the three parties meet in the capital.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
Whawha was promoted to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) from the Central Region Division One while Flame Lilly won the World Navi Northern Region Division One League.
However, there has been speculation on the two teams’ future in the top flight, with reports suggesting that owners were financially incapacitated to fund two sides in the PSL. After the debacle involving Triangle and Hippo Valley at the start of the year, there were fears that one of the two teams would be sacrificed.
Triangle and Hippo are owned by Tongaat Hulett, who decided to dispose of the later franchise as they felt their resources would be stretched by financing two PSL teams.
The ZPCS hierarchy have organised a meeting with the two teams in the capital tomorrow to map the way forward.
Both squads though, are sponsored by a regional bank BancABC.
The meeting was confirmed by the ZPCS public relations officer Tichaona Magadza yesterday.
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“The Commissioner-General (Paradzai Zimhondi) is meeting with the two teams on Friday as part of preparations for next season,” he said, adding that the two sides would compete in the PSL.
“There have been reports that one of the sides would be disbanded, but the Commissioner-General would like to set the record straight.”
Other reports had suggested that a senior politician from the Midlands Province wanted to sponsor Whawha.
The promotion of the two brings to four clubs in the PSL next season that are run by the uniformed services while Black Rhinos, owned by the army, was relegated last season.
Whahwa became the first lower division team to be promoted into the Castle Lager PSL for the 2015 season when they won the Central Region Division One League back in October.
The Gweru-based side, who are under the guidance of former Zimbabwe international forward Luke Petros, staved off the stiff challenge from the Midlands State University and ZRP Beitbridge to book their place in the top flight.
Flame Lilly, under the tutelage of former Black Rhinos gaffer Nesbert Saruchera, sealed their ticket into the PSL when they beat ZRP FC 2-0 to win the World Navi Northern Region Division One League ahead of Gunners and Mushowani Stars.
