adminGeophrey Sifani Sports Reporter
YESTERYEAR Bulawayo giants Zimbabwe Saints FC will hold a two-day trial at the Nguboyenja ground this weekend to beef up their squad ahead of the start of their pre-season training as they bid to win promotion into the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
Chikwata were relegated from the Premier Soccer League in 2006 and bounced back in 2011 after buying the franchise of then Chitungwiza-based PSL outfit Eagles.
However, Chikwata failed to survive as they were relegated back to Division One that very year. Their woes worsened in 2013 when they got the chop from Division One to Division Two where they are still wallowing.According to veteran former Warriors’ defender and Saints team manager Godfrey Paradza, who will conduct the trials, they are targeting players that are Under-24.“We’re trying to go for young blood because we don’t want to burden ourselves with players that are nearing retirement as we want to mount a serious assault on the Division Two title so that we are promoted to Division One,” said Paradza.“Last year we didn’t perform well because we assembled a squad late, but this year we are trying to strengthen our team early as our aim is to return to the PSL in two years’ time,” he said.
Paradza said they were hoping to bring back the glory days when Saints were a force in the topflight league.
“The players gave their all to the team last season. They worked under pressure since we started preparations late and managed to keep the team afloat.”
Saints finished 13th in the Zifa Bulawayo Division Two league with 32 points. Talen Vision won the Division Two championship last year closely followed by Highlanders Academy and the two sides will be competing in the Southern Region Division One league this season.
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