Zimbabwe Saints assures fans on weekend fixture

ZIFA Southern Region Division One outfit, Zimbabwe Saints have committed to fulfil their weekend fixture against Mainline, after they failed to show up for their previous two assignments owing to financial constraints.

Saints are set to lose points after failing to kick the ball in their last two matches but they have vowed to make it to future assignments.

They are second from the bottom with a single point from eight matches.

Chauya Chikwata asked to be excused for their tie against Ajax Hotspurs a fortnight ago before failing to travel for their Mosi Rovers FC tie last weekend.

“We have not fulfilled the last two fixtures owing to the failure to raise the required funds. The team is training and preparing for the weekend fixture as well as the midweek game,” said club legend and representative Gibson Homela.

He could not be drawn to comment on the rift between the club executive and board of trustees over clubhouse proceeds.

Chauya Chikwata has been using their own clubhouse to play host to their home matches this season.

The place which also houses a bar and shisa nyama had not been functional until renovations were made to the place three years ago.

Chronicle Sport is in possession of a letter from the executive seeking clarity from the board of trustees on how the funds from the sports club are being spent.

Saints, Super League champions in 1988 and a top club since 1963 at the dawn of professional and multi-racial football, have faded into obscurity in the past two decades due to a plethora of reasons, chief among them lack of consistent sponsorship and in-house battles.

Last season, Saints got a boost after the Adachi Group pledged US$30 000 sponsorship to the club.
However, the group owned by Adrian Mutungwazi now have their own club Adachi FC which also plays in the Southern Region Division One.

This has left the club struggling financially.

Chauya Chikwata, relegated from the Premier League in 2011, was thrown out of Division One in 2014 for failing to pay $2 500 in affiliation fees.

They were on the sidelines before registering in the Zifa Bulawayo Province Division Two League in 2015, when they finished 13th.

Zimbabwe Saints’ manoeuvres to play in Division One in 2016 hit a brick wall after they failed to raise funds to acquire the Quelaton franchise, which had been surrendered by Nust.

In 2011 Chikwata played in the Premiership after they bought the Chitungwiza-based Eagles’ franchise at the behest of businessman Felix Dzumbunu following their relegation to the Lower league in 2006.

Arenal are top of the Zifa Southern Region League table with 26 points.
ZPC Hwange are second with 24 points.

Third-placed Talen Vision have managed to 21.
Fixtures
Mountain Climbers v ZPC Hwange, Adachi v Casmyn, Ciwu v Binga Pirates, Talen Vision v Bosso 90, Makhandeni Pirates v Arenal, Indlovu Iyanyathela v Mosi Rovers, Mainline v Zim Saints, Jordan Sinnott v Ajax Hotspurs, Ratanang v DRC Utd, Indlovu Iyanyathela v Jordan Sinnott, Zim Saints v Ajax Hotspurs. — @innocentskizoe