adminWhile this is not the first time such initiatives have been introduced, hopes are high that this time it will work. Years of discord have seen the club sinking to Division Two with apathy taking its toll on the members.
So bad has been the situation that members have shied away even from executive posts leaving the same people to run the club in the last three demotions from the Premiership and Division One leagues.
Charles Chiponda a renowned Bulawayo businessman will chair the committee, with Roger Russell as secretary and other committee members are Felix Dzumbunu, Lazarus Magwaro and Martin Mabvira.
Dzumbunu and Magwaro are former club chairpersons while Mabvira was secretary and once tried to go the company route to resuscitate the club.
“This is a bold move aimed at transforming Saints into a professionally managed club and brand along the lines of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. The club has set up a committee to sell shares of a company that will run Zimbabwe Saints,” said Chiponda in an interview yesterday morning.
The committee according to a resolution will help put in place the shareholders and board of directors for the company once a good number of people have subscribed to the idea.
Notably all five committee members are respected people in the business and soccer circles.
Russell was club trainer during the team’s league and Chibuku winning season of 1988, the last year Saints really made an impact in Zimbabwe football.
The affairs of the club will be run by a company Nad Care Private Limited.
They will deal with the amalgamation of Zimbabwe Saints Private Limited, Zimbabwe Saints FC and the Queens Park East clubhouse under one company.
A resolution to go the Nad Care (Pvt) Ltd route was resolved at two meetings as members felt days of a community club were long gone.
“The company route was the only way of ensuring the long term survival of Zimbabwe Saints FC,” reads part of a statement signed by Chiponda and club chairman Gibson Homela.
Chiponda said shares were going for $2 000 and subscriptions were restricted to just 10 shares per individual.
Already five people have bought shares while ex-players and supporters have been allocated a share each.
Homela said the development was welcome in that the club would concentrate on playing football as opposed to being bogged own by such issues as the club’s finances.
Saints is one of the oldest clubs in the country. It’s the second most successful team to emerge out of Bulawayo having won the league title, Chibuku Trophy, Nyore Nyore Cup and the Castle Cup.
It has produced some of the best players this country has seen in Homela, William Sibanda, Andrew Kadengu, Max Tshuma, Ebson Muguyo, Ronald Sibanda, Musa Muzanenhamo, Ephraim Chawanda and George Ayibu.
The bickering since 1988 has seen the fortunes of the club plunge and this unity of purpose should come as a relief for thousands of soccer fans in Bulawayo and beyond who cherish the Saints brand.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter