As the late great King of football Pele called it “the beautiful game” millions across the globe crave the moment of witnessing that beauty that has time and again throughout history has sent peoples into delirium.
The new administration at number 53 Livingstone Avenue in Harare the headquarters of Zimbabwe’s football governing authority ZIFA (Zimbabwe Football Association) has advised the Premier Soccer League of their proposal to see teams in the PSL being increased from 18 to 20.
The idea is designed to align the national football calendar to the international calendar, as well as making sure that premier league football is taken everywhere across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe.
The idea of taking Premier Soccer League football to every corner of the country is crucial as this will be key, not only in the growth of the game but also unlocking the commercial potential and value the game has. Traditionally it has always been the 2 big cities Bulawayo and Harare with Highlanders versus Dynamos headlining every season which has in a way affected the growth of the game, as by default it has sort of restricted the game to those particular settings. The situation has been like that for years and there seem to be no change in site very soon.
Take the English Premier league for instance, the beautiful game is well spread-out right across the length and breadth of the country from the capital London to the Midlands side, Northeast to Northwest and to the South, and rivalries within and across these regions have built such a reputation that has put the English Premier League at the apex of the global football chain for years.
Who is not familiar with the rivalries between Manchester United and Liverpool, Manchester United and Leeds United, Arsenal and Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Coventry City in the West Midlands. Who can forget also the rivalries between the managers of these football clubs, from Old Trafford stalwart Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United to then Highbury favorite Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, to Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
That being the benchmark of how a league is supposed to be structured considering how the English game is followed and revered across the globe it would be a great idea if Zimbabwe’s premier soccer league has 20 participants taking the game to every corner of the country.
Imagine having a derby in Zvishavane Shabanie FC taking on FC Platinum, not only will it seet the town ablaze but it will also bring business that will be feeding off from the two teams, and the rivalry will further football development as young locals especially would dream of dawning the jerseys of either team as a result of the buzz the derby rivalry would have brought about.
Zvishavane is only but one example, imagine Kwekwe having a derby of its own with now relegated Kwekwe United and recently promoted Hardrock FC, the Midlands capital Gweru with Gweru United and Airforce of Zimbabwe outfit Chapungu Ascot stadium and the city itself would be buzzing on derby day, and it is from this standpoint the idea to have a 20 team league would be ideal.
