KWEKWE is buzzing — and it’s not just the sound of the gold mines.
Hardrock, the Midlands’ newest entrants to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, are preparing to step into the top flight with ambition and audacity. After storming through the Zifa Central Region Division One last year, the “Famba Hardie” boys have arrived, and they’re making it clear they don’t intend to blend in.
Despite a spending spree that brought in more than 25 new signings and a Caf-approved stadium, Hardrock’s priority is survival.
With only four of last year’s promotion-winning squad retained and a brutal opening fixture list against the league’s heavyweights, the Midlands newcomers are about to discover that big investment doesn’t guarantee instant success.
Club president Shepherd “Magodora” Chahwanda has signalled his intent with a massive financial blitz.
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He has not only built the Chahwanda Stadium from the ground up, but also rebuilt the squad, signing stars such as reigning Soccer Star of the Year Washington Navaya, Warriors goalkeeper Martin Mapisa, Donald Mudadi, Junior Makunike, and the mercurial Munashe Bamara.
The aggressive spending has already drawn comparisons to Scottland, who shocked the nation by winning the league title in their debut season last year. Yet, club chairperson Wellington Mpandare is keeping expectations grounded. A former national team manager, he knows big names don’t always equal instant results.
“The priority is survival,” Mpandare said.
“We are going to fight for survival, obviously, as a new baby. We need to fight for survival and make sure that we survive, especially with the facility that we have. We can't afford to go down a relegation road.”
He is acutely aware that the new stadium — a rarity for a newly promoted side — acts as both a crown and a target on their backs.
"The pressure is on us. A lot of people expect a lot from us, especially considering the facility (stadium) that we have. The Kwekwe community expects a lot from us. The Famba Hardie supporters also expect a lot from us. But pressure is part of the game. As I said, we expect just to play to survive, and anything that comes after is a bonus."
Hardrock’s introduction to the top flight will be far from gentle. They open against reigning champions Scottland — already billed as the “Clash of the Moneybags” — before facing ZPC Kariba, Chicken Inn and Harare giants Caps United.
The opening clash against Scottland is a face-off between two gold magnates, Chahwanda and Scottland owner Pedzai "Scott" Sakupwanya.
For Mpandare, this "presidential" showdown is a double-edged sword.
"That game will be difficult. It will be like Scottland's president versus our president, Chahwanda. The focus is on those two guys because of the investment that they're putting in football. But at the end of the day, it's a difficult game for us because, one, if we lose, it will have far-reaching repercussions for our team players,” he said.
“They will probably think that they are not up there with the best because we are playing the champions.”
He continued, “If we win that game, it means every game that we play after that will be a final because every team will say, oh, if they manage to beat the champions, then this team is very good.”
Whether they are ready or not, Hardrock are about to find out if gold and grit can deliver premier league success.