We won’t go the Amazulu way: Chiefs

Nkosilodumo Ndebele
BULAWAYO Chiefs which was promoted into the top soccer league are engaging potential partners to help them curb the financial crisis as they do not want to go the AmaZulu way.

Amakhosi Amahle, as they are fondly known, have been funded by businessman Lovemore Sibanda in the past.

Bulawayo Chiefs executive officer Dumisani Sibanda said they were now engaging partners to help them because they had seen a number of teams fold in the past because of a weak financial muscle.

a�?We have done our research as a team and we have reached an agreement that we must engage partners to help us financially. We have seen teams fold in the past because they lacked partners to help them in various aspects.

a�?Delma Lupepea��s AmaZulu and Thomas Mapfumoa��s Sporting Lions folded and as a team, we want to learn from their mistakes and engage partners so that we are in a better position in terms of funds,a�? said Sibanda.

How Mine also folded due to financial constraints.

Sibanda admitted the team owed players money and as such they were working towards clearing their debts.

a�?We sat down with a number of potential partners and a lot of them are interested in joining us. We have even engaged NetOne but we havena��t come to an agreement yet. We are hoping for the best.a�?

a�?There are rumours that we want to sell our franchise. Those rumours are not true. Yes, we are struggling at the moment but we are looking at other solutions not selling our franchise,a�? added Sibanda.

He said their focus was on the remaining games so that they avoid the murky waters of relegation.

a�?We dona��t want a situation whereby we engage partners to join a sinking ship. We are at a safe position at the moment in the log and we hope that it remains the same so that when next season comes, we will be a better team in terms of funds and performance,a�? said Sibanda.