Tongogara United withdraws from Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League
Chipinge based side Tongogara United Football Club have notified the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League their decision to pull out of the league citing dry coffers.
In a leaked letter dated 20 April 2026 to the ERSL, signed by the club’s Vice President and Secretary General that Fanzone is in possession of the club stated: “We, as Tongogara United FC, wish to inform you that we have withdrawn from the ERSL competition for this year of 2026. We did not want it to be this way, but we have been forced to do this because our team was under the support and management of the government and its partners. However, all these managers have pulled out of providing financial support to the team. Because of this, the Tongogara community has been unable to meet the amount of money required for each match. We have informed you so that you may look into removing us from this year’s list. We will make preparations and then rejoin again next year. We are very grateful for the cooperation we have had during this entire period. Thank you very much.”
According to sources the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League us yet to respond to this notification as the club is still included in the full mid-week and the upcoming weekend’s rooster.
The club is comprised of foreign nationals who reside at Tongogara Refugee Camp who fled numerous wars and conflict in their respective countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda and many more.
Things started to look bleak for Tongogara United when the American government announced that it was cutting its large chunk of aid to the United Nations a few months ago.
Tongogara Refugee Camp, where Tongogara United FC comes from, relies heavily on donations from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the Government of Zimbabwe, and a host of other well-wishers.
After United States of America president Donald Trump announced the cuts of USAid months ago, this had a ripple effect on Tongogara to some extent and this is no surprise.
Tongogara just before the season started had appealed for sponsorship, which obviously never came on board.
It will be hard to see them pull out after only one year in the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League.
They had quite a year, felling giants in the region when they were performing at their best.
Tongogara churned out stars like Babadi Tshipamba and Isee Mazora.
For now, the ERSL loses one of its most inspiring stories, a team built on resilience, undone by a global funding squeeze.
