adminPaul Mundandi Zvishavane Correspondent
NEWLY promoted Zvishavane Stars FC have warned Gaths Mine to expect a tough encounter when the two teams clash in a Central Region Division One League match at Mandava Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
“We are going to destroy Gaths Mine. We will teach them football and we can’t afford to lose our first match of the season especially at home and for us to gain support we have to win,” said Farai Vandira, a former Shushine and Lancashire Steel player who is the assistant coach.
The game will be more like a derby as Zvishavane Stars feature some players who once turned out for Shabanie.
Junias Chizororo played for the asbestos miners at some stage and is expected to partner Calvin Gumbura.
Zvishavane Stars will also bank on Simbarashe Chikwava, Sandruzeni Banda and goalkeeper Thabani Mangena.
Zvishavane Stars were formed by former Mandava United, Shabanie and Shushine players as a way of providing a platform for Zvishavane youths to be exposed to competitive football.
The two Premier League football teams in the mining town have been buying talent from elsewhere.
“We are here to be a feeder team to FC Platinum and Shabanie Mine.
“We want to gain promotion and we also need a team that has 70 percent of players who are children of Zvishavane.
“We have raw talent in Zvishavane and we are going to prove that we have what it takes to be in the league.
“We also want to remove marginal boundaries because Mandava and Maglas are one and we are all in Zvishavane,” said Chikerema Marembo, the team secretary.
The team is bankrolled by local businesspeople, Zvishavane Town Council and Samson Gondwe who also assisted them with affiliation fees.
Meanwhile, the team announced its executive yesterday.
Robert Nkhoma, a former Shabanie and Mandava United winger, will chair the executive assisted by businessman Cliff Mataga with Marembo heading the secretariat.
Benjamin Banda was made organising secretary with Sign Ngwenya, Noel Kalilombe, Jairos Dube and Moffat Nkoma committee members.
Freddy Siziba, another former Shabanie and Mandava United player and coach, is the team’s gaffer.
Siziba is a teacher by profession.
Online Reporter