FORMER premiership side Zimbabwe Saints could be back in the Zifa Southern Region Division One Football league this year as they are about to close negotiations with another top club Railstars for a franchise. REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE
Railstars, also in Division One, was last year weaned off by sponsors National Railways of Zimbabwe.
Chikwata, once one of the country’s biggest football clubs bedevilled by in-house boardroom squabbles over the years, were last season relegated from the Division One league after having been demoted from the Premiership in 2011.
Club chairman Gibson Homela yesterday said all was in place with only a few ends left to be tied before the deal was sealed.
“Everything is in line as far as I am concerned, unless something else happens. We have already negotiated and agreed that we will pay for the franchise in installments. As I speak our boys are in camp in Matopo preparing for Division One,” Homela said.
He, however, could not be drawn to reveal figures, but sources close to the deal have confirmed that something positive was coming out of the Zimbabwe Saints-Railstars deal.
Chikwata have already enlisted the services of former Premiership coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube to be assisted by former coach Admore Sibanda and Railstars gaffer Tirivaviri Sithole in preparation for the Division One action.
The three are in camp with the team in Matopo.
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However, time could be running out for Chikwata with the deadline for the payment of affiliation fees being tomorrow.
Zifa Southern Region treasurer Tawanda Ruzive said they had urged Chikwata and Railstars to put their acts together.
Last month, Zimbabwe Saints established a steering committee to work towards turning the club into a fully fledged company.
The committee comprises Bulawayo businessman Charles Chiponda, former trainer Roger Russell, former chairpersons Felix Dzumbunu and Lazarus Magwaro and former secretary Martin Mabvira.
When Zimbabwe Saints bounced back into the Premiership in 2011 after they were relegated in 2006, they had acquired Eagles’ franchise with the help of Dzumbunu and were coached by legends Willard “Mashinkila” Khumalo and former sons Agent “Ajira” Sawu and Ephraim “Rock of Gibraltar” Chawanda.
Chikwata won the Premiership in 1988 under Roy Baretto and have produced great players, among them, Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo, Homela, Chawanda, Sawu, Jimmy Phiri, Henry “Bully” Mckop, the late John Sibanda and Joseph Machingura, Muzondiwa Mugadza, Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda, Mtshumayeli Moyo and Mthulisi Maphosa, among others.
