Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu, [email protected]
MAINLINE FC moved swiftly to steady the nerves of its faithful supporters this week, making it clear that despite the sting of relegation to Division Two, the club’s roots remain firmly planted at Dingumuzi Stadium.
For a club that prides itself on identity and belonging, the message was simple and deliberate: home is still home, and the journey back begins from familiar ground.
In recent days, unease had crept into the stands and supporter circles amid speculation that Mainline would be forced to shift its home matches to Figtree. The concern stemmed from the club’s placement under Bulawayo Province Division Two, which operates within a policy restricting home venues to a 40 kilometre radius from Bulawayo.
For many, the thought of losing Dingumuzi felt like another blow in a season already heavy with disappointment.
It was against that backdrop that Secretary General Clistone Bhazaya stepped forward, choosing clarity over silence. Taking to social media, he addressed the rumours head on and reminded supporters of what still anchors the club.
“We remain playing our home games at Dingumuzi Stadium, not Figtree. Let’s support the boys. After regrouping, we shall bounce back to D1. We faced challenges, but we are there in football.
Support is needed from everyone,” he stated, a message aimed as much at rallying belief as at correcting misinformation.
Bhazaya also used the moment to update the club’s followers on squad matters, confirming that player registration has been completed, albeit with the acknowledgement that Mainline have had to part ways with some of their standout performers.
The list of departures underlines the realities of life after relegation, with Thabo Sibanda moving to Hwange FC, Anxious Mutanda joining Jordan FC, Denzel Dube heading to Gwanda Pirates, Proud Khupe — widely known as Mullar — linking up with Casmyn FC, and Kaiden Talent Masamba sealing a move to Karoi United.
Yet even as the squad reshapes, there was no bitterness in the club’s tone, only professionalism and gratitude. The executive extended its best wishes to the departing players, recognising their contribution while reinforcing the belief that the core of the team remains intact.
“We wish the boys all the best on their greener pastures. The bulk of the players are still with us. Ziyobuyela Iziratha Ku D1.”
Attention now turns to the pitch, where words must give way to performance.
“Mainline FC began life in Division Two with an away fixture against St Daniels at Cowdray Park in Bulawayo on 4 April 2026.
It was the first step of a long road, but with Dingumuzi Stadium still waiting to welcome them home, the club believes the path back to Division One is not a dream deferred, but a mission clearly defined.
