The Sunday News
ESIGODINI-based football team, Habane Sharks Football Club is ready to fight for a Premiership berth following their promotion into the Central Region Division One league.
The team came second in the Zimbabwe Football Association Matabeleland South Division Two League having attained 52 points, one behind eventual winners Jessie Mine.
Habane FC head coach, Mandla Ndlovu said they were elated by the elevation in their debut year in Division Two.
The ascendance sums up Habane Sharks’ fairytale rise from just being a boozer’s team barely 10 months ago into championship contenders in the country’s third tier league.
Ndlovu attributed their success to the quality of players in their fold, whom he said acquitted themselves well and showed character and strength even when the going became tough.
“I think as coaches we also managed to instill discipline among the players and also managed to ensure we approached games as a united front and we played for a purpose. We had several players who have been invited for trials at Highlanders after they showed some promise during a friendly match played against their reserves at Barbourfields,” said Ndlovu.
Some players who were instrumental in the Sharks campaign include striker Meluleki “Dunga” Ncube who was the league’s top goal scorer with 23 goals, forward, Nkanyiso “Gatuso” Nyoni, who chipped in with 17 goals, Kwanele “Zoe” Sikhosana (defensive midfielder), centre back and team captain Foster Ndudzo, and attacking left link Anele Ngwenya.
The bulk of Habane Sharks’ players are drawn from Esigodini and the neighbouring Mtshabezi, Filabusi and as far as the asbestos mining town of Zvishavane.
Ndlovu, however, said it was not an easy road for the players who had to survive with little financial rewards adding they struggled to motivate the players who at times got as little as a dollar a day.
The players persevered, and the authorities will now have to convince them to stay with the team in the grueling Division One league.
The team is bankrolled by Esigodini businessman Baron Dube.
Ndlovu said with resources available he would like to beef up the squad and come up with a stronger team that can challenge for honours in Division One.
Jessie Mine and Habane were promoted to the top tier league alongside ZRP Gwanda, after they occupied the top three positions when the league ended.
Zifa Matabaleland South provincial chairman Nkosilathi Ncube confirmed the promotion of the three teams to Division One.
He said they were given three slots as Matabaleland South after last year’s Division Two league winners Maranda FC opted against moving to Division One.
