A late intervention by Masvingo City Council saved Masvingo United from expulsion from the ZIFA Eastern Region Soccer League, it has emerged. Masvingo United has been operating on a life support system since parting ways with their benefactor Advocate Phillip Shumba, who had been funding the team from his pockets last season. However, the City fathers reinvented Una Una’s hope of revival after they paid the team’s affiliation fee of RTGS$26 500 just before the set deadline.
This follows efforts by the Masvingo United Supporters Association who wrote to the city council seeking assistance to help the club save their franchise by paying the mandatory affiliation fee. Club spokesperson who is also Ward 4 Cllr Godfrey Kurauone confirmed the development to this publication. He hailed the local authority for the intervention.
“Before we (new executive) were elected, the supporters association wrote a letter to council seeking a helping hand and council saw it fit to pay the money since Una Una is the only D1 team we have in the city and also as a way of recreation in the city so they paid a once off full affiliation fee for the club,” said Kurauone.
He revealed that the new executive led by former Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze has plans to lure a new sponsor before the start of the 2020 season.
“The Corona virus pandemic affected our plans but we are currently compiling a list of potential sponsors and we will approach them anytime soon,” added Kurauone.
Meanwhile all sporting activities have been put on hold due to the corona virus induced lockdown.
