CHIREDZI FC head coach Moses Chunga says it will be difficult for his side to survive in top-flight football without assistance from the corporate world, but believes that they will soldier on despite sponsorship constraints.
BY SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Chiredzi community-owned side, which has struggled to secure financial assistance from the corporate world to bankroll the team, has started the 2014 Premier Soccer League season on a bad note, collecting just a single point from their opening three games.
Although their debut match in the country’s top-flight league was a promising one-all draw against Zvishavane-based side FC Platinum, they have gone on to lose 1-3 in the Lowveld derby against Triangle before Sunday’s 3-0 demolition by Highlanders in their own backyard.
Despite the poor results, the club has attracted big crowds at their home matches a development which has come as a huge boost to keep the club going as their rely only on gate takings to pay players’ salaries and winning bonus, among other expenses.
And the major question of the day is that if they continue to register negative results, are they going to maintain such big crowds while playing at home? In an interview with NewsDay Sport yesterday, Chunga said everything would improve with time adding that they were going to compete in the league to the best of their ability despite the problems they were facing.
“We might be losing, but l just want to show people that football can be played here (Chiredzi) with all these problems, we are here to compete just like any another teams in the league,” he added.
“I am happy because our supporters have been coming in their numbers, but corporate support has been lacking. If companies don’t assist us, then our football will die and it will be difficult for us, but one thing I know is that we will soldier on,” added Chunga.
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“Yes, I know this is a crunch time in Zimbabwe. Things are difficult these days, but what is surprising is that the same companies sponsoring football in South Africa are not doing the same in Zimbabwe.”
Commenting on the performance of his side, Chunga, who will be away from the Lowveld for the first time when they take on Black Rhinos in Kadoma, said the performance was not disappointing although he believes that they need to rectify their mistakes while it’s still early.
“l don’t think our performances have been disappointing, we have been committing many mistakes and we need to rectify them as early as possible. Our plans are to regroup and collect maximum points in our next encounter,” he added.
Meanwhile, the team is set to host a fundraising dinner on May 1, according to the club’s chairman Charles Muchatukwa.
