The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere recently in TSHOLOTSHO
A NARROW strip road, whose tarred surface cannot accommodate dual carriage, takes one to Tsholotsho Shopping Centre, 118 kilometres from Bulawayo.
It’s a modest growth point that is, however, experiencing embryonic development.
The majority of the populace here are unfazed with the goings on beyond their environs; Tsholotsho town is the be-it-all in their imagination.
Just a stone’s throw away from the growth point’s epicentre lies the Tsholotsho Stadium dream, the proposed home of newly-promoted Premier Soccer League side Tsholotsho Pirates.
At first sight, one is tempted to conclude nothing “football-wise” can come out of this place.
However, a new wave of excitement and hope is sweeping across the town following the promotion of their very own football team into the top-flight league.
Locals hope the side will put the town into national limelight.
An ambitious dream by any proportions.
However, the people of Tsholotsho reckon they have already achieved bigger things through their “son” and Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo.
Prof Moyo is said to be playing a key role in ensuring that construction of the stadium runs according to schedule.
President Mugabe, according to Matebeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Cain Mathema, will officially open the 5 000 capacity Tsholotsho Stadium upon completion.
While administrative work is slowly taking shape, Pirates coach Lizwe Sweswe insists his team is not in the Premiership to make up numbers.
“There isn’t much of a difference between division one football and the Premier League. We are preparing very well and I am sure we can safely say we are ready for the challenge,” he said.
Sweswe, who recently attended a CAF A coaching License course, disclosed that the club will retain the bulk of the players who led the club to the Southern Region Division One title last season.
Defensive linkmen Gerald “Cheeseboy” Takwara and Butholezwe Ncube, wing-back Nkosilathi Moyo as well as attacking midfielder Ocean Ncube are some of the players Sweswe expects to make the difference for Iziqholo Zehwane.
Pirates have already started making history after appointing former Mighty Warriors midfielder and Young Mighty Warriors boss Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda as first assistant to Sweswe.
Sibanda becomes the first female coach in the history of the Premier Soccer League to take up such a position and the Tsholotsho leadership has no doubt she will be a great success.
“Coaching is all about brain muscle, not body muscle and she has proved to us that she has that in abundance.
“She is someone I have worked with for a while and I must say I admire her work ethic. The players respect her very much for the knowledge she has and that will help us a lot,” said Sweswe.
While the community is eagerly anticipating watching their local heroes pitting their wits against the best the country has to offer, Tsholotsho Rural District Council chief executive Themba Moyo has his sights on the development top-flight football will bring to the area.
“The promotion of the club has brought so much excitement to the community. Apart from the entertainment that it will bring, we are also hopeful we will have a lot of downstream benefits once the team starts playing here in July.
“The construction of the stadium is now central government’s baby and we want to commend them for coming to our rescue for the benefit of the community. We are looking forward to the day giants like Dynamos,Highlanders, and Caps United will visit to play our team,” said Moyo.
Club chairman Mlamuli Phiri said his executive had done their homework and will not buckle under the financial pressure that comes with playing top-flight football.
“We have seen a number of clubs folding as soon as they got into the top-flight league due to the financial demands, but we are confident the same misfortune will not befall us.
“While we are obviously looking for new partners, our president Mandla Manyathela is doing a sterling job. We have also been receiving a lot of support from a number of people, among them Minister Moyo.
“We are very happy this project we started as something social has caught national attention and is uniting us as a people. It is our hope that we will this season manage to stay afloat and then possibly campaign for honours next season,” said Phiri.
