Raymond Jaravaza
BULAWAYO City FC might not compete in Division One next season but rather operate as a football academy, B-Metro Sport has been briefed.
The team was relegated from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after a horrible 2021/22 season.
Being relegated means they must play Division One football next year.
But financial constraints at the club are pushing the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to consider disbanding the team.
BCC owns and finances the team.
“The City Council is beginning to ask serious questions about its continued support of the team considering that residents are complaining about service delivery issues in the city.
“Residents have long complained that funds that are spent on the football club can be channelled elsewhere such as the maintenance of roads and other amenities,” this publication was briefed.
The city council doesn’t, however, want to completely do away with the football project.
“The club executive reckons that the club can be turned into a fully-fledged football academy with numerous age groups from the Under 13s.
“The academy will not eat a lot into the council’s coffers in the same way that Bulawayo City FC does.
“Residents will see no reason to complain over a project that keeps their kids off the streets but at the same time is not expensive to run,” said the source.
Two weeks ago, our sister paper Chronicle reported how the team was set to lose the bulk of its players to rival clubs after being relegated to play in the lower division – the Zifa Southern Region. — @RaymondJaravaza
