adminTSHOLOTSHO Football Club have embarked on a fundraising initiative aimed at raising funds for the team through local and foreign sources.
Vusumuzi Ndlovu, the Tsholotsho FC chief executive officer said they have opened two bank accounts, one in Zimbabwe and the other in South Africa where well-wishers can deposit their donations to the club.
Ndlovu pointed out that the project which started a fortnight ago has been well received and will run until the end of the season.
“We are exploring ways on how we can increase revenue for the club, supporters have been coming forward. Two bank accounts have been opened one locally and another one in South Africa, we established accounts so people can deposit their contributions.
The initiative is two weeks old, we do not have any set targets, we are trying to raise as much money, the sky is the limit,’’ said Ndlovu.
On how they have fared since the start of the season financially, Ndlovu pointed out that they are not far off the budget they set at the beginning of the season.
According to Ndlovu, the club has survived through goodwill of the sponsor, club president Mandla Manyathela and the Tsholotsho community. Manyathela had his grocery shop in Tsholotsho gutted down by fire at the end of last month.
Tsholotsho FC have also been in consultation with their supporters over the introduction of membership fees.
He said the proposed figures were $100 for life membership and $10 with a $1 monthly subscription for one to become an ordinary card carrying member of the club.
Other ways of raising funds for Tsholotsho is the sale of club merchandise in the form of replica shirts, track suits, flags, caps and stickers.
These are sold in a shop in Tsholotsho with distributors in Bulawayo and South Africa.
Tsholotsho FC, promoted into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League this season, have found the going tough.
A fairytale win over Harare City in their maiden fixture in top flight football has been hard to repeat.
Iziqholo Zezhwane, the only team from the rural areas in the 16 team league have only picked up two wins, drawn thrice and lost five times to bring their points tally to nine.
Next up for the Lizwe Sweswe coached Tsholotsho FC who played out a 1-1 draw with Dongo Sawmills at White City Stadium last Friday is a tough assignment against defending champions Dynamos in Harare on Africa Day.
Online Reporter