It’s Mutare City Rovers FC!

Ray Bande and Liberty Dube
MUTARE City Rovers FC were last weekend promoted into the country’s elite football league – Premier Soccer League (PSL) – after capping a fine season that saw them crowned champions in the fiercely contested Zifa Eastern Region Division One soccer league.

Gusha Bhora, as the Mutare City Rovers is adoringly referred to, were bestowed champions when they walloped Ruwa Gunners 2-0 at Zimbabwe’s ceremonial home of football – Rufaro Stadium – last Sunday to complete the season with 69 points.

Masvingo United would have been crowned champions had they beaten Mutoko, but, succumbed to a moral sapping 0-0 draw on the same day.

The team finished second with 68 points together with Hartley Academy, but, the former had a superior goal difference. When the news filtered in that Masvingo United had drawn against Mutoko, the Gusha Bhora team players, the executive and supporters could not hold back tears of joy as they celebrated a moment of football history.

In Mutare football lovers succumbed in delirium. This week on Monday the Mutare City Rovers brass band, the players, members of the executive and the fans went on a lap of honour in the city as they celebrated the historic moments.

It had taken the team three seasons coming up as the runners up. In 2012 the team was runners up against Triangle. In 2013 it repeated the same feat to Hippo Valley and last year they were Dongo Sawmills bridesmaids.

But this year, GushaBhora struck the right football Gods and finally reached the Promised Land.

In an interview with The Manica Post an elated Clayton “Baggio” Masekesa who is the team’s influential spokesman said: “Firstly, we want to thank the God Almighty for his endless blessings for making us attain this supper status, as Zifa Eastern Region Division One champions that saw us being promoted in the country;s highest level of soccer, the PSL.”

“Obviously, as a team we are very delighted that finally, we have fulfilled our long cherished dream. It has been a very long and arduous journey, but, now we are very delighted that we have reached the Promised Land.

“This is a well-deserved achievement for us all. I want to thank the gallant players who defied all odds and remained focused until we achieved what we have been dreaming of all the way. They are indeed our football heroes,” said Masekesa.

He said as the executive they give credit to the players and the technical staff for their unwavering loyalty and determination.

The team is coached by Kennedy “Bokande” Kachara while Isaac “Zeka”Nengomasha and Stephen “Sekuru Starvo” Chinhengo are his assistants.

Nando Bandura is the goalkeepers’ coach.

“At times they operated under very difficult environment as we struggled to get the financial resources to give them, but, we are now contented and at the same time touched by their courage. Now, together we have accomplished our mission,” he said.

“As the executive when we took office at the beginning of the season we told ourselves that we wanted to get promoted into the premier league. As to our objective, we are happy that we have delivered the goods,” Masekesa said.

He emphasized that the executive played a very significant role as they remained focused and worked together as a team.

“Some executive members went out and dug deep in their pockets to fund the players. All the executive members had to leave their work to attend various weekly meetings to strategize and craft football policies that we felt would bring us the good results and we are happy that we have done something for the people of Mutare,” said Masekesa.

He thanked the supporters of the team led by the dedicated brass band, which he described as the “the twelfth player”, as they supported the team with all their hearts throughout the season.

“They followed us everywhere even though the chips were down, their unwavering support gave our players the motivation. We hope that the people of Mutare will come on board and continue with our objective of maintaining premier league soccer in the city.

“We know there were others who rallied the team behind the scenes and we want to acknowledge their commitments and philanthropy. At this moment we want to say thank to everyone who immensely contributed to the teams cause. As Mutare City Rovers we are very humbled and overwhelmed by such support, we hope that this relationship will continue during the course of the premier league games,” he said.

Masekesa said the team also dedicates its promotion to some departed members of the team.

“Along the journey we experienced the sordid moments when two of our senior employees Shadreck Nzounhenda and Justice Derera perished in a car accident when coming from a football match against Claremont in 2012. So these guys wanted this team to be promoted. We have done it and wherever they are I think their spirits are with us and we are with them in this celebration moments,” he said.

Nzounhenda and Dererawere buried at the Mutare’s Provincial Heroes Acre.

Masekesa added: “Moreso, the late LovemoreNhamarare who was the father of Mutare Mayor TatendaNhamarare was a staunch supporter of the team and his desire was to see the team promoted. We are happy that we have accomplished what he wished.”

The Mutare Mayor, Tatenda Nhamararewho is also the team’s Patron said he was grateful that finally the dream had come true and that the team will bring various business opportunities in the city.

“As a city we are happy that we have a team in the PSL. There is nothing as important as having a premier league team in the city. We are delighted that we have achieved our goal. In fact, as Mutare City we have made football history,” said Nhamarare.

“The Mutare City Council management have been a vital cog, as they positively contributed towards our cause. We want to say thank you to the council management and councilors for rallying behind the team. I want to also thank the council staff for their support and we appreciate everything they did in making sure that we were promoted,” he added.Nhamarare thanked the Town Clerk Obert Muzawazi and Chamber Secretary Gladys Muneta and the entire management for their support and hoped that their support would go a long way in buttressing their football mission.

Mutare fans will have something to cheer about next season, as Buffaloes FC was relegated this season.