Highlanders and Dynamos could face relegation if their cash woes get worse. Nkulumane MP Freedom Murechu wants ZINARA to back the Bulawayo club, with NetOne paying to help its Harare rival stay afloat. Yep, the plan puts public firms in charge of helping two of Zimbabwe's biggest soccer clubs.
At a budget meeting in Bulawayo, Murechu raised a fair point. Other teams in the Premier Soccer League have deals with big firms, yet these two clubs lack that kind of support. And he thinks the gap could put their league status at risk.
His pitch was for the state firms to sign deals that last, not just hand out cash when things get bad. The MP also sees both teams as part of Zimbabwe's culture, given their long history and huge fan bases. Losing either from the top league would be a big deal.
There's also the issue of who keeps the clubs running. Bernard Marriot-Lusengo holds a majority stake in Dynamos, while Highlanders runs as a social club. Neither setup makes the bills go away. Player wages, travel, hotels, and match costs all need cash.
But here's the catch. No deal got signed or made public at the event. For all the talk, ZINARA and NetOne have yet to commit to the plan. Murechu has put the idea before the government, but the clubs still lack the proposed backing.
At a budget meeting in Bulawayo, Murechu raised a fair point. Other teams in the Premier Soccer League have deals with big firms, yet these two clubs lack that kind of support. And he thinks the gap could put their league status at risk.
His pitch was for the state firms to sign deals that last, not just hand out cash when things get bad. The MP also sees both teams as part of Zimbabwe's culture, given their long history and huge fan bases. Losing either from the top league would be a big deal.
There's also the issue of who keeps the clubs running. Bernard Marriot-Lusengo holds a majority stake in Dynamos, while Highlanders runs as a social club. Neither setup makes the bills go away. Player wages, travel, hotels, and match costs all need cash.
But here's the catch. No deal got signed or made public at the event. For all the talk, ZINARA and NetOne have yet to commit to the plan. Murechu has put the idea before the government, but the clubs still lack the proposed backing.
