adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
Rovers finally struck the right chord after three seasons of attempting, yet failing to attain the coveted Premiership promotion.
IN the midst of the euphoria that naturally comes with Premiership promotion, Mutare City Rovers might soon find out that there is little time to celebrate their recent achievement as pertinent issues await their attention before kicking the ball in the Castle Lager Premiership 2016 season.
Rovers finally struck the right chord after three seasons of attempting, yet failing to attain the coveted Premiership promotion.
Their promotion came as a huge relief, not only to the team and their passionate fans, but also for the entire football community in Manicaland after Buffaloes FC and Dongo Sawmills were relegated to the less fashionable Division One league.
Be that as it may, Mutare City Rovers have quite a number of pertinent issues that await their attention and need to be addressed before the start of the Castle Lager Premiership 2016 season, lest they might find themselves going back to the Eastern Region Division One league at the end of the 2016 season.
Following their promotion, questions have arisen over the team’s pedigree to sustain life in the country’s top-flight league given the well known challenges that they faced, but somehow managed to overcome in the less demanding Division One league.
Sponsorship
It is a fact that soccer teams in Mutare and Manicaland at large have well documented financial challenges, no wonder why they can hardly keep their heads above water in the Premiership.
Relegated Buffaloes survived from hand to mouth after the withdrawal of handouts from struggling diamond mining concern, Mbada Diamonds.
Dongo Sawmills also had their fair share of financial challenges and were a bit lucky that residents of Rusape thronged Vengere Stadium in their numbers each time the team was at home.
However, for City Rovers it could end up being the same old story of financial quagmire given that the local authority has its own challenges and knowing their management, financing their football team might not be part of their priorities.
That some fly by night sponsors-cum-pseudo football administrators joined them and dumped them, life in the Premiership might not be a bed of roses for Magusha, as City Rovers are fondly referred to.
One of those instrumental in securing City Rovers’ top-flight league slot, Mutare City Rovers patron, Tatenda Nhamarare is confident that they will secure enough resources to ensure that they would not wave goodbye to Premiership football after just one season.
“There is no doubt that we have to look for sponsorship. We are going to approach a number of individuals and companies that we think can partner us.
“However, we are also going to learn from our counterparts. I mean teams owned by local authorities. In fact, a delegation will go and meet with Harare City officials to learn from them how they have been able to sustain life in the Premiership against the backdrop of economic challenges.
“It will be difficult, but I believe it can still be done. We have had to use our own resources at time just for the passion of the game,” he said.
Club executive
Most teams have failed to make their impact felt in the Premiership simply because of the way they have been run by their respective administrators.
With a blotted club executive, a team can hardly survive among the big boys in domestic football.
Nhamarare has confidence in the executive he has been working with and expressed confidence that they will prove their mettle in the Premiership.
“I think I was impressed with the team I was working with. They did a fantastic job. They were dedicated throughout and I see no reason why we should change that set up.
“Most of the people that we think have the experience actually have the experience of taking teams back to Division One, so why do we need such individuals in our team. We are not saying we will not listen to advice or seek advice. We will, but we will not rock our boat for the sake of accommodating the so-called experienced administrators,” said Nhamarare.
With Mutare businessman Samuel ‘Golly’ Tauya as chairman, City Rovers have Thanda Rwambiwa as vice-chairman.
Passionate soccer enthusiast Isdore Bingura is the organising secretary.
Saul Tom is the secretary, while Mutare journalist, Clayton ‘Baggio’ Masekesa is their spokesperson.
Victor Gwenge is the treasurer.
Technical Department
There is no substitute for experience and City Rovers certainly cannot be an exception to this law of life.
The team is coached by Kennedy “Bokande” Kachara, while Isaac “Zeka”Nengomasha and Stephen “Sekuru Starvo” Chinhengo are his assistants.
Nando Bandura is the goalkeepers’ coach.
All these individuals have never been in the Premiership in the same capacities before and their aptitude is highly questionable given the standards in the Premiership.
However, Nhamarare is of the opinion that changes can only come after the incumbent fail.
“I think these coaches have done a good job under very difficult circumstances. If I had it my way, I do not think that there is need to change them before giving them a chance to prove themselves. Bokande must be given a chance to prove himself.
“We will get recommendations from PSL on their expectations on qualification of coaches who sit on the technical, bench but I have no doubt that Kachara is equal to the task,” said the Mutare mayor.
Players
One of the key aspects of ensuring a long life in the top-flight league is depth in talent and Nhamarare agrees that there is need to beef up their squad.
“It all lies with the technical department. We stand guided by what the technical department says. Their recommendations will give us the way forward.
“Nonetheless, in my opinion we need a goalkeeper although we already have an experienced goalkeeper in Tapiwa ‘Staben’ Mafunga. We might also need additions on the defensive link.
We need someone with the requisite height and agility to make impact on that position.
“The same goes for strikers. We might need to add more strikers so that we are able to find goals.
That simply means that we might need to beef up almost in every department.
“It is also imperative to note that we are not going for big names. We believe that we have more than enough talent in the eastern region and we should be able to give those talented youths a platform to showcase their talents,” said Nhamarare.
Sakubva Stadium
Mutare’s ceremonial home of football – Sakubva Stadium – has been condemned on a number of occasions as unit to play host to top-flight league soccer matches.
Buffaloes even had to get the green-light to use Sakubva weeks into the season after PSL had banned the match venue from hosting Premiership matches.
City Council have, on a number of occasions, been accused of dragging their feet in renovating and maintaining the stadium and now it remains to be seen whether the local authority will have the same attitude given that their own team is now in the Premiership.
“We are going to work on the match venue – Sakubva Stadium. I cannot give specific time-lines, but what I can confirm is that we will soon move in to start work on different areas like changing rooms and the turf itself,” said Nhamarare.
Fans
The sad reality about soccer teams in Mutare in recent years is that they have been well supported while playing in Division One, but the same supporters turn their backs on the teams when they get promoted into the top-flight league. The now defunct Highway is a good example. Whether it is the $3 Premiership stadium entree fee or anything else, one wonders.
However, Nhamarare expressed confidence that their die-hard supporters will be with them in the Premiership.
“Our fans have played a crucial role in getting us promoted. They have been part of the team. I do not see them turning their backs on the club. This is more of a people’s project and they have the team at heart.
“I am happy that most of them are aware that the best way they can support the team apart from cheering the players during matches, is to pay their hard earned money to help the club meet its expenses,” he said.
Saturday or Sunday
Mutare City Rovers have been playing their home matches at Sakubva Stadium on Saturdays and the Mutare mayor thinks the trend will continue even in the Premiership.
“Saturday is just our lucky day and I do not see us changing. We love playing Saturdays and that could be the same in the Premiership. The executive will decide, but it is highly likely that we will stick to Saturdays,” he said.
Online Reporter