adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA Southern Region Division One side Tsholotsho FC have set sights on taking Premiership football to rural Tsholotsho.
The Lizwe Sweswe-coached side, that set their pre-season training base in Bulawayo until about two weeks back, will be announcing their final 2014 squad on Thursday before having a friendly match against Orange Caf Confederation Cup participants How Mine on Saturday.
“It’s a huge challenge indeed but we are determined as a club. We want to bring premiership football to rural Tsholotsho,” said coach Sweswe, brother to former Highlanders and Dynamos defender Thomas Sweswe, now plying his trade in South Africa.
Sweswe believes the two years that they have been playing in the second tier league have given them enough experience to go for honours in their third season.
Said the former Matabeleland North Youth Games boys provincial team coach:
“I think our progression in the two years will be our biggest inspiration. We were position 10 in our debut season in 2012 and last year we ended at number five, a leap of five places which I think the boys need to be applauded on.”
Last season, Sweswe nearly cost Bulawayo Chiefs a premiership berth when they shocked them 1-0 in Tsholotsho at a crucial stage. With Chiefs having merged with Bantu Rovers in the premiership, Tsholotsho will be one of the championship favourites together with Blackboots, Technosphere of Hwange and New West City.
ZPC (Hwange) are also in with a chance but even if they get promoted, they will have to relinquish their spot in line with the new Fifa club licensing rules that prohibit ownership of more than one team in the same league by the same individual or entity. There is already ZPC Kariba in the top flight league.
On Thursday Sweswe is expected to announce a 25-member squad that will also include youngsters from their Under-19 squad that plays in the Tsholotsho District Football Association league.
The Mandla Manyathela-owned side is probably the only lower league side that has a developmental team. Despite playing in the lower league Tsholotsho have managed to produce a national team player in two years, Triangle FC’s Pasca Manhanga whose ownership is still under dispute.
Meanwhile, the 2014 Southern Region Division One league starts on April 5.
Online Reporter