tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda recently in MASVINGO
THEIR biggest moment in local football came 18 years ago, but they blew it.
Masvingo United would have been crowned Premier Soccer League champions in 2005 had they not lost their last match of the season to Dynamos at Mucheke Stadium.
“Yuna Yuna” went into the last round of fixtures trailing log leaders CAPS United by two points. They just needed to win their game while praying for a Makepekepe loss against Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium.
Sadly, Masvingo United fell 2-1 to DeMbare, who were fighting relegation, while CAPS United also lost 3-0 against Chauya Chipembere. It meant Makepekepe duly claimed the championship. Luke Masomere was in charge of that star-studded Masvingo United side that had players like Tafadzwa Dube, Musareka Jenitala, Costa Nhamoinesu, Malvern Nyakabangwe, Lloyd Hlahla and Godfrey Dondo.
Steely defender George Magariro was also part of that class of 2005. Six years later, Masvingo United were relegated from the PSL.
Since then, there has not been top-flight football in Zimbabwe’s oldest town.
But Magariro is now part of an exciting project aimed at bringing top-flight football back to Masvingo. He is presently in charge of Eastern Region Division One side FC Wangu Mazodze, an ambitious team owned by New York-based Richard Wangu Mazodze.
The team have won a lot of followers because of their robust social media campaigns. On Sunday last week, they opened the season with a 2-0 win over FC Hunters at Mucheke Stadium, with former Triangle and FC Platinum star Hillary Bakacheza scoring the goals.
“We have assembled what we think is a powerful squad that is capable of winning the championship and earn promotion into the Premier Soccer League,” declared Magariro.
Apart from 2015 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Bakacheza, the team has also roped in gifted left-back Dexter Phiri, who nearly lifted the PSL title with ZPC Kariba in 2014.
Phiri also helped Simba Bhora gain promotion from the Northern Region last season.
“It’s over 10 years without Premiership football in Masvingo and we do not like that situation to continue,” added Magariro.
“We even talked about it when we regrouped for the 2023 season. I told the boys that our mission here is to bring Premier Soccer League football back to Masvingo.
“And we believe FC Wangu Mazodze can bring the desired change and smiles back to the football fans of Masvingo. Next year, 2024, we should be playing in the top-flight.”
The team have managed to blend experienced and upcoming players.
Masvingo province as a whole has one team in the PSL — Triangle United.
The other teams from the province to have played Premiership football in the past are FC Victoria and Chiredzi FC.
One striking thing about FC Wangu Mazodze is their ability to attract fans.
Thousands of fans thronged Mucheke last weekend to rally behind “Zhalala Zhululu”.
“Fans have been rallying behind us and I am sure by the end of December, they will be celebrating because Premiership football will be back in Masvingo,” said club chairperson Trevor Chateuka.
◆ Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter