ZIFA Distances Itself From NRSL Season Opener Delay

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has refuted claims linking it to the postponement of the Northern Region Soccer League’s (NRSL) opening fixtures, stating it was never officially informed about the league’s planned 2026 kick-off date.

In a statement released on Saturday, ZIFA acknowledged receiving correspondence from the NRSL dated 27 February, which attributed the cancellation of Match Day One to the late confirmation of unavailable referees.

However, the association dismissed the assertion, clarifying that it had not received formal communication confirming the start of the 2026 NRSL campaign. ZIFA also indicated that no official fixture list had been submitted for approval.

According to the association, its Referees Department did not receive any formal request to appoint match officials for the opening round or for any subsequent matches.

ZIFA emphasized that proper coordination and adherence to established procedures are essential for smooth competition management, adding that structured communication between leagues and the association remains critical.

Earlier, the NRSL announced that it had called off its first round of fixtures, citing difficulties in securing match officials.

The situation exposes mounting administrative friction ahead of the 2026 domestic football season, with clubs and supporters now waiting for confirmation of a new start date for the league.