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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE future of Hwange Football Club hangs in the balance after their primary sponsor, Hwange Colliery Company resolved to halt sport funding from next year.
Although HCC spokesperson Eltah Sanangura dismissed the “resolution” as a mere rumour, some company executives insisted that the motion is set to be adopted at their strategic planning workshop where sport funding, including football, will be on the agenda.
“The company wants to stop funding sporting activities and that will obviously include football. There is a strategic planning workshop this weekend and that issue is part of the deliberations,” said a company official.
However, Sanangura said: “They are just rumours, but yes there is a strategic meeting this weekend.”
Some players said they were no longer certain about their playing careers and urged the company to quickly come out in the open on the issue so that they can make informed decisions.
“It’s a shock to us really and we just pray that this thing remains a rumour, but until the company assures us, we will never be settled,” said a player.
Hwange FC falls under the company’s Estates Department, which has some commercial activities like beerhalls, buildings and houses. If the shocking move sees the light of day, Chipangano fans will hope the department will come to the rescue of the team and agree to fully fund it.
A number of sporting personalities, who have torched, not only the national scenes but regional and international event, have emerged from the Hwange community.
Some of the sporting greats include Adon Treva, the sprinter whose 46.2 seconds in the 400M in 1972 still stands as the Chamber of Mines record; Thethelani Moyo; Charles Mafika; Phineas Ajida; Simangele Ncube; (sprinter) Zephania Ncube, who dominated the 1,500M and 10,000M in the national and Mines’ Games and was a member of the Zimbabwe 1980 Moscow Olympic Games team; triple record holder in the mines’ 100M, 4x100M and 4x400M Gabriel Chikomo, who was also a 2007 All-Africa Games bronze medallist; Temba Ncube; Ephraim Katako; hurdler Benjamin Songoya. There is also Elijah Nkala, a member of the 1991 All-Africa Games team; Mwape Sakala the former club player and coach who was part of the 1970 and 1973 Castle Lager Cup winning team and 400M runner; Chutika Tembo, who at one time captained Highlanders; Posani Sibanda; Amos Rendo; David Khumalo; Isaac Phiri; Fabian Zulu; Labani Ngoma; David Zulu; 1997 Soccer Star of the Year Walter Chuma; Twyman Ncube; Mphilisi Moyo and boxer Daliso Lungu.
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