Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Saints have appointed club and Warriors legend Ephraim Chawanda as technical director.
He will head the Zimbabwe Saints coaching department, which has 2009 Coach of the Year Philani Ncube as head coach.
Chawanda played for the club in the 1980s and was crowned Soccer Star of the Year after guiding the club to the title in 1988. He rose to become one of the best centre-backs to play for Zimbabwe and was part of the Dream Team, where he partnered the legendary Francis Shonhayi, now late.
Club chairman Tawanda Ruzive has declared the club back in business following Chawanda’s appointment and others into the executive.
“We are back in business, Saints is now playing football and that is what Zimbabweans want. It’s a club with a history that cannot be ignored, which is why, of all the clubs that have collapsed, we are the only team that has been resuscitated. The club elders have done a fantastic job to ensure there is unity and we revive this giant,” said Ruzive.
Ruzive said the arrival of Chawanda coincides with the registration of the team’s juniors, a sure sign of the club’s seriousness on its return.
Zimbabwe Saints had not been active for a year.
“We have registered our juniors and this year they will be playing in the Bulawayo Province Junior League. The arrival of our legend as director is a sure sign that we are also looking into the future and he will craft the way forward for all our structures because we want sustainability. Saints was a club known for producing its own talent. We want him to chart the direction forward,” said Ruzive.
Ruzive also disclosed his executive, which has former club defender Lovejoy Mugadza as vice chairman.
Chris Masiyandima, a former club leftback, is now the board member for finance. He is a degree-holding accountant from the University of Zimbabwe and has worked for listed companies.
Soccer commentator and marketing personality Joseph Nkani is the board member in charge of marketing.
Caleb Sengu is the club’s board member responsible for administration, with Michael Mandaza as a board member.
Muzondiwa Mugadza is in charge of the diaspora resource mobilisation from his United Kingdom base.
Also part of the management team is Edgar Dube.
Saints have also brought on board Witness Kuziwalela as a board member responsible for development.
“Kuziwalela has come on board as board member responsible for development, which is an area we are serious about. We want our own players that would have come from the junior development and the arrival of Kuziwalela who has vast corporate experience with Chawanda and a supportive structure will take Saints forward. We call on our supporters to come back and take their club to the next level. The dream is alive, we want Saints back in the Premiership.
“We started our campaign late this year, but what I can promise is that we will compete. We have a committed group of players who have shown a bit of character despite our late start,” said Ruzive.
Saints have played two games, lost one and drawn the other.
Log
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Black Rock 3 3 0 0 7 0 7 9
2 Hwange 3 2 1 0 5 1 4 7
3 Nkayi United 3 2 1 0 4 2 2 7
4 Mosi Rovers 2 2 0 0 4 1 3 6
5 Megawatt 3 2 0 1 3 1 2 6
6 Casmyn 3 1 2 0 1 0 1 5
7 Talen Vision 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 5
8 Aqua Stars 3 1 1 1 1 2 -1 4
9 Imbizo 3 1 1 1 1 3 -2 4
10 Vic F Her 3 1 1 1 4 5 -1 4
11 Jordan 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
12 Byo City 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3
13 Byo Warriors 2 0 1 1 1 4 -3 1
14 Njube Spurs 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 1
15 Khami Utd 3 0 1 2 2 6 -4 1
16 Zim Saints 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 1
17 Zebra Rev 3 0 0 3 0 3 -3 0
18 Bosso 90 3 0 0 3 2 5 -3 0
