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Curtworth Masango
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Kwekwe United secured a ticket to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after attaining an unassailable 71 points that saw them being crowned ZIFA Central Region Soccer League champions with a game to spare.
Former Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore guided Kwekwe United to their maiden PSL ticket, an achievement a few people expected at the beginning of the season.
Matore had to inspire his side to a strong second-half season to turn around their story. By taking Kwekwe United to their first-ever Premier Soccer League appearance, Matore also made history by ending a 16-year absence of a team from Kwekwe since Lancashire Steel in 2009.
But what is not known by many is that for Matore, the inspiration to conquer came from one of the darkest hours of his life.
His mother, Deliwe Matore, passed away in July.
The death of his mother stole the biggest cheerleader in Matore’s life and football career. It posed a probable breaking point for him but had to draw inspiration from that dark hour.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports, Matore said: “I encountered one of the most difficult moments in my career when my mother passed away in July.
She was my number one cheerleader throughout my life and football career both as a player and a coach. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
“That’s a point when everything turns the other way round and had to overcome that. The only way I felt best to honour my mother was through my success on the touchline.
“I can say it paved the way for my biggest moment of the season, which was turning around our second-round performance.
“We posted 12 wins, three draws, and conceded only a single goal with a game to spare. Of course that came through hard work, teamwork and total commitment to training and application on games from the whole squad,” he said.
Matore said he was happy with the achievement after starting the season slowly and hails his players for the feat.
“It feels good coming first time in my first year in Division One and winning promotion,” he said.
“It was a difficult season which we started slow by having five draws and two losses in the first half of the season.
“We managed to get to the top first match of the second half of the season until we clinched the title it was hard work and focus for us to pull through.
“My players did exceptionally well tactically and technically they took their task very well,” he said.
He hopes to survive relegation in the first season of the Premiership.
“Obviously as you get into the big boys league, survival is the first port of call so we looking forward to a tough exciting season with a lot of surprises,” he said.
Online Reporter