Border strikers in cash worries

Raymond Jaravaza
BORDER strikers have at least a month to get a qualified coach, pedigree players but the latter depends on if,A� and thata��s a big a�?IFa�?A� the club gets funding.

The teama��s heroic coach Never Malunga in football circles is a�?uneducateda�? to coach a team in the premiership. This is because his Zimbabwe Coaches Association Level Fourteen qualification falls below the required minimum CAF C Licence needed for a PSL gaffer.

The team is searching for a qualified coach with names such as former Shabanie Mine mentor John Phiri and relegated Whawha coach Saul Chaminuka being bandied about to take over at the border town based team.

Malunga is likely to be number 2 to whoever will get the top job.

But that is the least of the teama��s worries, sources within the establishment revealed that the club does not have the pleasure of shopping for top flight football experienced players.

a�?The team will have to go withA� players that were part of the Division One title winning team because there is no money to buy experienced players. The Premier Soccer League is tough and very competitive. Without financial resources to sign players there is nothing the executive can do,a�? said the source.

Border Strikers do not have a principal sponsor compared to clubs such as Dynamos and Highlanders that are bankrolled by financial institution Banc ABC.

The club is a community owned team that relies on the business community in and around the border town of Beitbridge.

Home matches will be played at Dulibadzimu Stadium which is being renovated to meet Zifa standards.

Last year Tsholotsho FC attempted to tackle the Premiership with an inexperienced team but faced the relegation axe mid way into the season, a situation they promptly remedied by acquiring veterans Joel Luphahla, former Highlanders midfielder Siza Khoza and Danisa Phiri.

The team eventually avoided the chop.

Border Strikers public relations manager Raniel Ndou asked B-Metro Sport to forward questions and promised to respond before going for print.

a�?Send me the questions and I will respond later,a�? he said but would not answer his phone when called later for comment.