adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
ONE of Hwange’s oldest football clubs, Rufaro Rovers is on the verge of collapsing due to lack of sponsorship that has seen them struggle to travel for their away matches. Rufaro Rovers, which used to contribute a significant number of players to Hwange FC which is in the Premiership together with clubs like Brazil, Giant Killers, Projects, Marathon and Kabwe are in the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League.
Last weekend, Rufaro Rovers were walked over by run away log leaders Bulawayo Chiefs after they failed to travel to Plumtree for their league match.
The struggling Hwange club anchors the log with just 13 points from 22 outings making them relegation favourites.
In an interview, Rufaro Rovers’ spokesman Lisuthu Ndlovu said the future of the club hangs in the balance.
“The truth of the matter is that we are struggling and we don’t know whether we will be able to pay our expenses for the remaining matches. Rufaro Rovers is a community team and the survival of the club depends on well-wishers. Things have not been smooth at all and some of the people who used to bail us out have since stopped doing so and right now the future is very much uncertain.
“We asked Zifa to postpone our game against Bulawayo Chiefs but our request was turned down and we were walked over. We will try our best for the remaining games but if we don’t get assistance it will be the end of Rufaro Rovers,” said Ndlovu.
Already, the club is sinking in debts as they owe Zifa Southern Region $525 for player registration as well as $833 for match officials. They are left with eight league matches, four at home and this means that they will be required to pay referees a total of $880.
Rufaro Rovers’ outstanding home matches are against Bulawayo Jumbos, championship chasing Black Boots, Ajax Hotspurs and Mkhosana.
They will be away to Hwange Juniors, Technosphere, Zimbabwe Saints and Bantu Rovers.
Ndlovu said they do not owe their players bonuses.
“There are other service providers that we owe but the good thing is that our players are happy. The players understand that we do not have a strong financial base but they appreciate the fact that as a club we are giving them a platform to shine. Every season we lose more than half our team to other clubs which shows the exposure is paying dividends,” said Ndlovu.
Online Reporter