adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
FINANCIAL demands associated with running a Premier Soccer League team forced Plumtree Chiefs to propose a merger with Bantu Rovers, an official said yesterday.
So full of promise after winning the Zifa Southern Region Division Soccer League in November last year, it finally dawned in the New Year that Premiership is no schoolboy field for Plumtree Chiefs.
Responding to questions at a Press conference where both Bantu Rovers and Plumtree Chiefs confirmed their merger, Dumisani Mantula-Sibanda said after introspection they decided to approach Tshintsha Guluva who they thought had resources to help sustain a Premiership status.
“The decision to go for a merger was purely business because we didn’t want to be counted among those teams that come into the PSL and then go out at the end of the season. After a closer look at the prevailing economic conditions and forecasting on sustainability of the team in the PSL, we decided that we needed diverse views in management and engaged our neighbour Bantu Rovers. They have been in the Premiership before and after our proposal, we are happy that they agreed to this merger,” said Mantula-Sibanda, Plumtree Chiefs’ secretary.
The agreement to use Bantu Rovers for topflight was for branding and sponsorship purposes as they felt the brand is attractive.
They retained Plumtree Chiefs name for the developmental side which will play in the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League and will be a feeder to Bantu Rovers.
Wilbert Sibanda, Bantu Rovers’ general manager concurred with Mantula-Sibanda and set the record straight that no money had exchanged hands.
“There was no selling or buying of a franchise but we got into a merger with Plumtree Chiefs and have provided all the paperwork to Zifa who have okayed the deal. Because of the merger players from both clubs have been brought together and the technical team will choose those that will play in PSL with the remaining guys going to our Division One team.
“There are a few modalities like the structure which will meet the new Fifa Club Licensing System. We will also be announcing our official technical team and players in due course,” said Sibanda.
Bantu Rovers attended the PSL annual general meeting on Saturday while Plumtree Chiefs voted in the Zifa Southern Region elections.
Both clubs’ officials were armed with a Zifa clearance letter.
Though both officials could not be drawn into revealing the percentage they paid to Zifa for the process, Chronicle Sport has it on good authority that the national association valued the franchise at $40,000 and Bantu Rovers paid at least 10 percent of that value for the change of name.
It seems Tshintsha Guluva have once again opted for an easy way back to the Premiership having spent three seasons in Division One by going into a merger with Plumtree Chiefs.
Bantu Rovers made their maiden top flight appearance in 2009 after buying Mutare’s Eastern Lions franchise and were relegated at the end of the 2010 season.
Bantu Rovers’ founder Methembe Ndlovu and Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu have been taking players through their paces while Thulani “Thuts” Sibanda remains in charge of the Division One club.
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