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Senior Sports Reporter
HWANGE Football Club begin their 2014 season preparations today. Coach Nation Dube yesterday said the players would be subjected to medical tests this morning. The Matabeleland North-based Premiership outfit retained almost all their players from last season but might add one or two new faces while rock solid defender Eric Chipeta, who is with the Warriors in the African Nations Championship in South Africa, is almost certain to leave. He is believed to be heading to Bulawayo should there be no takers for him in South Africa. He has been linked with a possible move to Highlanders.
Chipangano are reportedly eager to agree terms with former Tripple B coach Aleck Marime and out-of-contract Dynamos players Tawanda Mupasiri and Benjamin Marere.
“The holiday is over for us, our journey begins tomorrow (today) where the boys will go for medical check ups as per club policy and then on Wednesday we will start our physical training,” said coach Dube.
He and his assistants, Brian Njobvu and Chenjerai Dube, who are out of contract, are also expected to append their signatures this morning.
Chenjerai was at one time linked to Highlanders but the Bulawayo giants settled for legendary Peter Nkomo, as a replacement for Tembo Chuma whose contract was not renewed.
Dube said their target this year was an improved performance from last year that saw them start off on a low note before picking up form towards the end of the season to eventually finish the season on ninth position on the log standings, three points above the drop zone.
They were also knocked out of the lucrative Mbada Dimonds Cup at the quarter-final stage going down to Harare City at Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge.
“Our hope is that we start the season the same way we ended it and if we manage to do that, I don’t see us failing to improve on our ninth position.
“We don’t want to set ourselves unrealistic targets or those that will put us under immense and unnecessary pressure,” said Dube.
He did not rule out the team going to a pre-season camp as part of team-building. Last year Hwange had a two-week training camp in Gwanda, Dube’s home town.
“We will confirm the training camp hopefully tomorrow but as the technical team, we really would have wanted to have the camp,” said Dube yesterday.
Meanwhile, the club is expected to announce its new chairman following the sudden resignation of Joseph Hove early this week.
Club secretary Burzil Dube is the acting chairman.
Sydney Nare, Ananias Banda, treasurer Bekithemba Sibanda are some of the names that could land the top post at the 1970 and 1972 Castle Cup champions.
Online Reporter