CSKA Announce Lazarou League Exit

CSKA Sophia Gardens have officially announced their departure from the Lazarou Cardiff Sunday Football League.

The decision was taken by the CSKA management committee to consult with the players and look for a way forward for the club. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the local amateur football landscape against the background of covid-19 had led to a lot of questions needing to be addressed.

As a results of withdrawing from the Lazarou League, CSKA are now officially an unaffiliated club and free to participate in fixtures at their own will providing they adhere to Welsh government guidelines.

After a consultation period between the management committee and players it was clear that the desire to continue with affiliation in Lazarou League was no longer the preferred direction. Even taking away the factors presented by the covid-19 impact, there was a general feeling that it was time for the club to move in a new direction anyway.

It has now been confirmed that the club will spend the following 6-9 months existing as a non-affiliated team available for friendlies with other teams. A decision on whether to return to competitive football and what league to apply to participate in will be made early in 2021.

CSKA Sophia Gardens Chairman Steve Day said "It's a bittersweet moment for the club. We've enjoyed our nine seasons in Lazarou League and have made a lot of friends during that time but it was obvious the current climate meant it was impossible to consider playing competitively at this current time.

"A number of reasons have led to this decision. The uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season with no start date given and no telling that the season would even have time to finish. A lot of our players are in close proximity with vulnerable adults or young children so didn't have the enthusiasm for a league season like they usually would. We also have a number of players on the front line in the fight against covid-19 so their availability could not be guaranteed if there is a second wave of cases this winter

"Ultimately, it came down to the fact that we couldn't promise our players if they would be playing regular games this season and we couldn't promise the league that we'd have enough players available to play this season. It felt like the best in everyone's interests was to just withdraw from the league and have more control over what football we can offer the lads and when. Even if it was just weekly kickabouts or intra-squad friendlies."

Talk will now turn to where the future of the club lies. Day was quick to point out that this isn't the end of the club but simply a brief sabbatical until the situation regarding the coronavirus pandemic has been resolved.

Day added "We are keen to emphasise that the club has not folded. CSKA is still a vibrant club with players that remain good friends and keen to play together in the future. The next 6-9 months will see us continue training together as a squad and participating in friendlies with other teams where allowed.

"It remains uncertain what league the club will be playing in during the 2021/22 season. That largely depends on what the covid-19 situation is at that time, what our players wish to do, and what leagues will accept us. The club is open to all possibilities and it will be the players that make up this squad that will have the final say in which competitions we apply to participate in.

"I would like to put on record my personal thanks to the management and players, especially for the efforts Craig Robertson, Jordan Lloyd, and Ed Lewis have put into helping the club get through this difficult period and the past few years in general. The team would not exist as it does if it wasn't for their continued hard work and organisation.

"We would also like to pass on our thanks to Lazarou League and all those we became good friends with that are involved in the league down the years. The league committee, referees, managers, and players. There are some incredible people that don't get the credit they deserve. Amateur football in Wales wouldn't survive without them. People like the late and great Danny Gomes, Dave Gillingham, Andrew Rowe, Vince Lewis, and Shirley Berry have all been a great help to us down the years. Referees such as John Duffy, "Chivvy", and Gary Ismail have been an absolute credit to the referee profession. Then there's the endless clubs, secretaries, and players that we've enjoyed laughs with down the years. Great memories!"

Further information about the club's availability for friendly matches will be released in the coming weeks. It's been encouraging to see the FAW confirm its move into phase 3 of the return to competitive football. The club will happily speak to teams interested in playing friendlies over the next 6-9 months.