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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
RELEGATED Bantu Rovers Football Club say they have no regrets over buying the Bulawayo Chiefs’ Premiership franchise last year despite staying one season in the topflight league.They are not ruling out the prospect of buying another franchise.
There has been fears that Bantu Rovers might not be ready for Premiership football again.
Tshintsha Guluva stormed into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after buying the Zifa Southern Region 2013 Division One league champions Plumtree Chiefs’ franchise but unlike in 2008 when they bought Eastern Lions’ franchise and went on to stay for two years in the elite league, Bantu Rovers only managed three wins and a massive 18 losses which was not good enough to ensure their stay.
They are now headed for the unfashionable world of Division One football but director, Methembe Ndlovu is not a bitter man and has no regrets in having bought the franchise.
“We have no regrets whatsoever in having bought the franchise, if at all this was one of our best years ever in terms of business. Yes, results were not coming on the field of play but we managed to clinch some lucrative deals on the business front,” said Ndlovu.
Bantu Rovers sold Kudakwashe Mahachi to South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns for an undisclosed fee while Marvelous Nakamba was sold to Vitesse in the Netherlands’ top tier league.
It is believed the two deals netted Tshintsha Guluva slightly over $2 million and Highlanders who played a hand in the development of the players are due for a cut.
One of their junior products, Tafadzwa Raphael Kutinyu flew out of the country on Saturday for trials with top Belgian side Club Brugge.
Ndlovu was non-committal on buying another franchise again, amid rumours that they were now targeting Tsholotsho, championship favourites in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
There has also been talk of the Whawha franchise too from the Central Region.
“In life you never know what can happen but we always want to compete with the best. If an opportunity arises we will have to look at it but again if it means us playing in Division One so be it,” said Ndlovu.
Online Reporter