adminTobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent
ZIFA Southern Region Division One League debutants Amagagasi FC are optimistic of leaving a mark in this league with the colourful outfit having started trials last week in the resort town of Victoria Falls.In a telephone interview, Amagagasi’s organising secretary Nkululeko Ncube said they had started on a high note with everyone in the club raring to go.
“We started trials last week and we hope to conclude them this weekend. We’ve local players and some coming as far as Bulawayo and I’m happy with the huge turn out.
“We’ve retained most of our players but new faces will definitely be there. Early next week, I’ll be having a full list of the squad which will play in the Division One league. We also have a new coach Phumulo Mathe who replaced Ndoga Nyoni who moved across to Trumus FC.
Our aim is to stay in Division One this year but not saying that we’re not ready to challenge for honours if the chance presents itself,” said Ncube.
Mathe is a former Intundla player and he also coached the now defunct Saulo Paulo FC, a club which was one of the best in the Zifa Southern Region Division One league with players like Matthew Kamwala and Nkosilathi “Diego” Khumalo.
The new arrivals at Amagagasi will have to fight for jerseys with the likes of Elijah Ngoma, France Ncube, Lungile Nyathi, Pedro Nyoni and Elton Phiri who played a big part in Amagagasi’s promotion quest.
Prolific striker Godknows Sibanda is now with Trumus FC having left with his coach Nyoni at the end of last season.
Amagagasi have also registered a developmental Under-19 side in the Zifa Matabeleland North Division Two league.
“As part of efforts to have a strong side going forward, we’ve registered a youth side in the Zifa Matabeleland North league and we hope to groom youngsters for our senior team,” Ncube said.
Meanwhile, Zifa Matabeleland North league champions Makomo’s most inspirational and outstanding player last season Lloyd “Matsatsatsa” Chimuchenga has set his eyes on a better season.
“If I look back at my early days in football at Harare Province Division Two sides Lunar Chickens FC and Biljen Park, I feel I’ve matured as a player but the sky is the limit as I intend to showcase my talent in the coming years at a higher stage. My aim was to help Makomo gain promotion into Division One and if I don’t get fresh offers from clubs like Dynamos who loaned me out in 2010, I’m more than willing to sweat it out to ensure Makomo qualify for the Premier League in 2016,” said Chimuchenga.
The 24-year-old midfield maestro, a product of Churchill Boys High School, joined the Premier League championship side Blue Ribbons in 2011 after leaving the Glamour Boys.
Chimuchenga then turned out for Zifa Southern Region Division One outfit Mpumalanga FC (2012) and ZPC Hwange (2013) before making an instrumental contribution towards the coalminers’ glory last season.
He made his international debut in 2006 when he featured for Zimbabwe national Under-17 team against Reunion playing alongside the likes of Knowledge Musona, Abbas Amidu, Lincoln Zvasiya and Derrick Chipeta.
In a related development, Makomo FC are expected to start their pre-season training tomorrow with the club chairman Mernard Maera hinting at some major changes in the technical set up aimed at asserting the coalminers as a major force in the competitive and tricky Division One league.
Online Reporter