‘Saints would not have been relegated if Chuchu had stayed’

Saints bought the Eagles franchise and three weeks later the club was playing in the Castle Lager Premiership.
After a decent start with Willard Kumalo and Agent Sawu at the helm, their world collapsed in the second round when the two were fired. The club lost key players like Leo Kurauzvione, Beavan Chikaka, Phillip Sithole, Isaac Pitamuja, Vorster Chitemu, Danisa Phiri and Tafadzwa Maingire at the same time.
Sengu said it was always going to be difficult for the club after they failed to secure the services of Chiweshe. He had assembled the team Kumalo and Sawu inherited.
“We believe if we had confirmed Chuchu early as coach we would not have been relegated. He knew exactly what he wanted so he got the players for his team and the system of play. It was unfortunate that we delayed to conclude a deal with him and he left. He was replaced by Willard Kumalo and Agent Sawu just before the season kicked off and the pair played a role in our demotion to Division One.
“Things could have been different had Chuchu stayed and retained all his players that we lost in mid season. If Chuchu had carried on with his team, we were confident of a top-five finish,” said Sengu.
The Chikwata secretary, said his club belonged in the Premiership and that they were going to Division One just to re-group and strategise before launching themselves back as a formidable side.
“We belong to the Premiership. That is where we should be playing and not Division One. We have learnt from the past and we should be able to strategise to enable us to come back to the Premiership as a stronger force ready to challenge for all honours. We don’t want our Division One stay to be a long one,” said Sengu.
The club will have its annual general meeting on 5 February.
Sengu said the AGM which was also an annual review meeting would be a platform for members to air their views on the way forward.
“At our annual general meeting we will map the way forward. We are inviting all our members to come and contribute towards shaping our future as a club,” said Sengu.
He said between now and the annual general meeting the club was hunting for a coach to replace Ephraim Chawanda and hoped to also recruit new players.
“We hope by the time we get to the annual general meeting we will have a coach in place and players to take us back to the Premiership. We want to start our preparations for Division One as soon as possible,” said the Chikwata secretary.