ZFA set date for premier league

Zanzibar Football Association (ZFA) has announced January 15, 2010 as a date when the Isles premier soccer league kicks off at the two centres of Unguja and Pemba.

ZFA assistant secretary general Masoud Attai said initial preparations for the league are underway as teams have to complete transfer and registrations of their players.

All twelve teams lined up for the league are expected to collect players’ registration forms available from September 15.

Transfers of players are supposed to be effected in October. All teams must beat the registration deadline set for November 30.

ZFA would scrutinise the fully registered players in December before approval for the league to kick-off early next year.

However, most of the football stakeholders in Zanzibar have been critical on the ZFA football calendar.

The Isles league is staged not at par with the rest of the other soccer seasons in the region and hence too short. The league kicks-off when Mainland premiership will be half way stage to attain completion.

Some of the soccer stakeholders who have expressed their discontent over Zanzibar league include national soccer team coach Marcio Maximo and veteran Burhan Msoma

The coaching duo have advised ZFA to rectify the kick-off dates so that the league would be conducted concurrently with the Mainland premiership season.

Players featuring for Zanzibar premier soccer league teams stay up to six months without kicking a ball, a technical shortfall aspect being overlooked by ZFA.

Maximo had expressed his discontent over the hardship he usually experience to select players for the national team from Zanzibar.

Zanzibar top flight sides expected to feature in the league to be played on home and away basis are  Malindi, KMKM, JKU, Mafunzo, Miembeni, Chipukizi, Jamhuri, Mundu, Zanzibar Ocean View, Konde Stars and Police.