ZIFA Southern Region chairman, Musa Mandaza said he is disappointed the region had most Premiership sides that got the chop.

Bantu Rovers, Tsholotsho and Hwange are among the four sides that were relegated from the topflight league at the end of the 2017 campaign alongside Harare City, who are heading to the Northern Region Division One League.

“This has surely been a sad year for the Southern Region because we’ve lost control of the Premiership.’’”

The ZIFA Southern Region had the highest number of teams in the Castle Lager PSL and now only four teams remain - Highlanders, Chicken Inn, HowMine and Bulawayo City.

Mandaza said the Southern region will be meeting the relegated teams to ascertain their participation in the First Division next season.

“We will find out if the teams coming from the PSL will be with us next year because there are rumours flying around that some will not be around. After meeting the relegated sides sometime this week, we will then know if there’s need to relegate from Division One,” said Mandaza.

Rovers indicated last month that they will be splitting their operations, with their academy team set to play in the Second Division, while the senior side takes a sabbatical and only intends to compete in the First Division in 2019.

The Southern Region Division One League ended the 2017 season with 13 active sides, having kicked off the season with 14 instead of 16 clubs. Victoria Falls Tigers were expelled from the league after missing three consecutive games.

Moto Moto and Technosphere withdrew before the start of the season, citing financial challenges.