Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HARDROCK have restored Kwekwe’s football pride.
For the first time in many years, the Midlands town will host Premiership football next season.
Forget Kwekwe United, who have been playing under the town’s banner but never brought a single Premiership match home.
Hardrock have changed that.
Their 2-0 victory over MSU at Baghdad on Saturday sealed the Central Region Soccer League title and confirmed their promotion to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
This is a club that has invested heavily, not only in players, but in facilities.
Club owner Shepherd Chahwanda has built the 20,000 seater Chahwanda Stadium, which will host Premiership matches in Kwekwe next year.
It was a fitting reward for a side that has poured resources and heart into their campaign.
But they had to earn it the hard way.
MSU fought stubbornly until late in the game when Benedict Sithole and Donald Ngoma finally broke through to secure the win.
Hardrock will officially be crowned champions in Beitbridge when they face Dulibadzimu in their final match of the season.
Throughout the campaign, Hardrock built a strong and experienced squad, bringing in several players with Premiership backgrounds such as Lennox Mucheto, Cleopas Dube, Ngoma, and Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye.
Mucheto, a key figure in the team, could not hide his joy.
“We can’t celebrate enough. It was a tough run where we spent a whole lot of time trailing Sheasham. But we picked ourselves at the right time and persisted. Here we are now and we are pretty happy with the promotion. The whole season was tough for us. We are quite happy with this promotion.”
Mucheto joined Hardrock from Yadah, along with Prosper Kafelapanjila and goalkeeper Dennis Kigonya. For them, the move looked like a step back. In the end, it turned out to be a step toward glory.
Mathew Masinge