Online Reporter
Tongai Mashonga [email protected]
THE stage is set, and Chahwanda is primed to host the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) matchday 10 featuring the league debutants.
When the whistle blows at 3PM tomorrow, Premier Soccer League debutants Hardrock FC will lock horns with Nesbert Saruchera’s Hunters FC in a Castle Lager PSL tie that promises fireworks, flair, and a full-blooded 90 minutes.
For the Kwekwe miners, it’s a milestone 10th dance in the topflight. For Hunters, it’s a chance to prove their first win wasn’t a fluke. One side is flying high in second place.
The other finally has three points to match their pretty passing, sitting on position 14 with eight points on the PSL log table.
And in the Hardrock corner, chairman Wellington Mpandare is calm, confident and clear:
“Hunters is no pushover. They play a passing game, but we play at home, and we are Hardrock. Our fans, as usual, will rally behind the boys and give them that extra adrenalin. It will be an intimidating atmosphere as usual.”
Mpandare struck a grounded tone despite Hardrock’s dream start to life in the PSL.
He says 10th game “special” but insists survival is still the target despite sitting second on the log table.
“So far, so good. Our target has always been to survive relegation. Being our first season, our target is to fight for survival. We are on number two going into the tenth game, and the focus remains the same, survival,” he said.
The chairman picked out their matchday four clash with Caps United as a marker of progress, despite defeat.
“Our game against Caps was one of our best games. The boys put up a good show by exhibiting exciting football, though we lost.”
He paid tribute to the club’s president Shepherd Chahwanda for “making sure the machine is well oiled.
“The technical team is doing so well, and thanks to our president, who makes sure the machine is well oiled. He has been very supportive, and he is making life easy for coaches, players, secretariat, executive, and everyone involved with the team. He is a football mad person, busy as he is, he still finds time for football business.” Hardrock are yet to taste defeat at home, a record Mpandare wears as a badge of honour.
“We have played difficult games at home, including hosting the champions, and we take pride that we have not lost at our fortress Chahwanda stadium.”
He hailed the fans as the club’s lifeblood.
“The fans are the 12th player, and they have been very supportive coming in numbers for our home games and even travelling to our away games. We are privileged to have supporters who are so in love with the team and are part of Hardrock.”
With tomorrow marking the 10th PSL outing, the club has gone big on mobilisation.
“Our 10th game is very special and has become the norm. Our media and marketing team are busy making sure our fans are aware of this special game. We did posters as well as made sure our social media handles were active.” Mpandare said there is little difference between the promoted players and seasoned campaigners.
“It’s difficult to differentiate between players that were in Division One and those who were playing in the Premier league. It’s not a surprise that these players from Division One are playing so well because they showed their quality when the team was fighting for promotion.”
Youngsters like Tinashe Mashaireni, Last Nyilenda, and Wilfred Madzungu are going toe to toe with experienced players of the calibre of Donald Mudadi, Junior Makunike, and Andrew Phiri.
On transfers, the chairman said the technical team will decide.
“On transfer, that will depend on what the coaches want. If they have areas where they think the team needs to be beefed up, then we will scout around. So far it looks like they are happy with the players they have.”
Hardrock’s vision stretches beyond survival. The club has already launched a female team competing in the Central Region and plans an Under-19 side “soon”. “The U19 will be our feeder team. In the future, we will not be buying as many players as we did this season. After survival, we will map the way forward and come up with new targets. We obviously want to be the best, considering the investment that our president has put.”
Mpandare, who hails from Zvishavane, said the project is personal.
“I come from Zvishavane, so I am closer to home in Kwekwe than in Harare. When I think of the magnificent Chahwanda Stadium and how much the president has invested in the team, I always feel like there is no time to sleep. We need to match the investment by doing more in the playing field. Who said the sky is the limit when there are footsteps on the moon.”
His proudest moment?
“My proudest moment as chairman is to lead a team that has a passionate president. He has made life easy for me. Am also happy that we are picking points at home. I would not want us to start fighting for relegation when there are a few games left.”
Hardrock come into Saturday’s clash off a draw against troubled Manica Diamonds FC, having earlier turned Chahwanda into a no-go zone for visitors, including the reigning champions.
The miners have built their lofty position on home dominance and high press football. Hunters, by contrast, finally turned pretty patterns into points on matchday nine, grinding out a 1-0 home win over Triangle FC, their first victory of the campaign.
Nesbert ‘Yabo’ Saruchera’s men have long been praised for their passing game but were failing to grind positive results. Now, with the Triangle scalp under their belt, they roll into Kwekwe, desperate to keep the winning momentum and prove it was no one-off. It sets up a classic contrast: Hardrock’s unbeaten home run and title-chasing swagger versus Hunters’ search for back-to-back wins to kick-start their season.
Sidumisile Mabena