FC Windermere aims for the top

The team, who were embroiled in a court battle in 2010 that saw them failing to participate in the league, were hard at training as of last week in a bid to fine-tune the players for the rigours of the league that is expected to kick off in March.
Club chairman Simplicio Madzikanda confirmed that his team was gearing up for the season.
“We are quite happy to be back in the league after a two-year absence but we could have been playing in last season’s league as we were invited back by Gift Banda, the suspended Southern Region Division One chairman, but because of financial constraints we could not play.
“We just started training last week at a school in the city and we have recalled all our players from the clubs that we had loaned them to and we are in the process of familiarising them with each other so that come March they would have gelled together.
“Our players, like Shepherd Maregere, who was in South Africa, Gift Phiri, who was at Zimbabwe Saints, Promise Banana who was with Tsholotsho Pirates, Tapiwa Marime, just to name a few, are back at training with the squad,” said Madzikanda.
He said they would not be playing any friendlies as they were just concentrating on fitness and putting the team together.
The chairman revealed that this year they will be sponsored by Basement, a city entertainment centre owned by Omega Sibanda.
Madzikanda said the team had secured another sponsor from the mining world.
There will be a name change before the season starts.
“This name changing business is the reason that kept us out of the 2010 season as we could not reach a consensus in time to play and we ended having an out-of-court settlement with Zifa but this season everything is in order and all the relevant authorities are aware of the impending name change and this time around there will be no problems whatsoever,” he said.
Their proposed merger with How Mine led to squabbles with Zifa who felt it was not proper since it had happened late.
Madzikanda disclosed that the technical team will remain unchanged with Luveve Stadium being their home.
“Our technical team remains unchanged. Nkosana ‘Santsho’ Gumbo will continue as coach, Danford Murashiki as his assistant, Dumisani Nyoni as team manager and I will be the chairman. Our home ground will still be Luveve,” said Madzikanda.
“We are not in the league to add to the numbers but we are back to leave a mark in the league and progress to the Premiership come next season,” he said with boldness.