The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
HIS body language said it all, his broken voice was that of a man whose soul is troubled.
As we sat in his car for what turned out to be a short interview, one could sense that the Mushowani Stars owner, Lovemore Zava Nyakasoka, was about to drop a bombshell.
Mushowani Stars’ financial books are in the red. Players have gone for five months without a salary, the club is even struggling to pay ground rentals for their home matches and Nyakasoka is getting “nothing” from gate takings, even after recently moving to their preferred home at Trojan in Bindura. Nyakasoka coughed out over $6 000 for the trip to Bulawayo, where his side will clash with Highlanders at Barbourfilds this afternoon, yet he had only grossed less than half that amount when Mushowani hosted Manica Diamonds at Trojan last Wednesday.
“Things are not looking good at all, if someone comes and say they are willing to buy the club, I now have no choice,” Nyakasoka said.
The Mashonaland Central businessman has already done the valuation of his beleaguered club and is willing to listen to buyers with offers in the region of $2 million.
“After some valuation of the club, the least I want is $2,3 million rtgs. The club is worth about $5 million,” said Nyakasoka. During the mid-season window, Mushowani received about $30 000, when chief striker Evans Katema moved to Dynamos. That fee was used to pay a month’s salary bill. The average salary for Mushowani players is $600, while winning bonuses are pegged at $150. “They (players) keep on playing and grinding results. They want to make names for themselves, they are motivated to keep their team above relegation.
“We owe them over $150 000 in salary and winning bonus arrears,” said Nyakasoka.
The debutants are hovering in the relegation zone with 21 points from 20 matches, ahead of today’s clash against Bosso.
While the Bolton community in England almost witnessed the collapse of financially crippled Bolton Wanderers until a last minute takeover by Football Ventures Limited saved the team last week, those in Bindura, Madziwa, Shamva and the Mashonaland Central province at large might watch helplessly as the Mushowani project goes under. The fact that Bolton Wanderers, a team with a 145-year history, one that is a founding member of the Football League, can face collapse, is testimony of how difficult it is to run a football club, especially for an individual.
Should Mushowani collapse, they will join a list of clubs such as Black Aces, Zimbabwe Saints, Shooting Stars, Motor Action, Lengthens, Rufaro Rovers, Fire Batteries, Blackpool and Underhill, who all failed to sustain the Premiership’s financial demands. “It is difficult to sponsor a PSL club. I thought people from Mashonaland Central would chip in, but nothing is happening.
“I am, therefore, calling on business people from Mash Central to put their heads together. This project is no longer about Nyakasoka, it is about the province as a whole.
“lf Mushowani is to fold, we might not have another opportunity of having a PSL club in the near future. “We are open to sell it. I would prefer a buyer from Mashonaland Central, but we have no choice now, we will take an offer from anyone.”
The last Mashonaland Central team to play in the top-flight was Mwana Africa, who were relegated at the end of the 2007 season.
However, The Sunday Mail Sport understands that a number of businessmen, including Simba Ndoro, owner of Shamva-based Division 2 side Simba Bhora, have made enquiries about the availability of the Mushowani’ franchise.
“If they (Mushowani Stars) have a good price, I can take over,” Ndoro said.
However, the Premier Soccer League, through their communications officer Kudzai Bare, said the club is yet to officially raise the red flag.
“We only heard about the Mushowani Stars plight through the media, so we can not base on Press reports “When a team is promoted, the Premier Soccer League carries out an induction exercise to familiarise the new entrants with our requirements in terms of administration and our competitions.
“But as for the financial capacity of a club, that falls under Club Licensing, which is Zifa’s responsibility,” Bare said.
Zifa competitions and communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said while the association’s First Instance Board, the committee mandated with implementing Club Licensing, is applying the statutes, they have noted that many sides in the country are struggling to fully adhere to the set criteria.
“In terms of the financial criteria of Club Licensing, teams should avail the evidence that they are financially capable to participate in the top-flight league. We always request such information from the clubs. Club Licensing is a professional, but is a very gradual process. If we are to strictly apply the Club Licensing regulations, there will be very few clubs playing in PSL. Nevertheless, we urge clubs to embrace the Club Licensing model as it is very beneficial to them,’’ Gwesela said.
