Lovemore Dube
A picture showing crest fallen Hwange supporters at Wadzanayi Stadium in Shamva yesterday where the Colliery side joined Arenel and Bulawayo Chiefs among the Southern Region’s relegated Castle Lager Premiership sides, summed it all.
Someone even retorted that it would be a boring 800km drive back to the Colliery for Hwange FC. Hwange, who needed an outright victory and a negative result from Sakubva Stadium where Bulawayo Chiefs needed maximum points against Manica Diamonds, found themselves on the receiving side to Bikita Minerals who beat them 2-0.
With Bikita Minerals on fire and Chiefs losing in Mutare 2-1, Hwange and Thulani Sibanda’s side joined already relegated Arenel and Chegutu Pirates who slugged it out in a boring goalless draw at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo.
As if the gods were angry, rains threatened and it was all dark clouds as if to embrace the sombre atmosphere caused by the three Southern Region teams exit throwing some of their players’ future into the gulley.
Hopes were raised that at least one of the teams would survive when Migoz Svinurai thrust Bulawayo Chiefs into the lead. At 36 points and one better than both Bikita and Hwange, it appeared as if they were headed for survival.
On 81 minutes Evans Katema made it 1-1 in Mutare for Manica Diamonds meaning the Bulawayo team was now hard pressed to score and park the bus and count on Hwange equalising after Tinashe Ruzive had put Bikita in the lead.
A second goal to make it 2-0 scored by Barnabas Mtuche sealed Bikita’s place in the Premiership.Hwange appeared to have paid for their poor start in which they struggled from the beginning of the season to the end. A few promising results under Rodwell Dhlakama were not enough to save the team.
Dhlakama joined the club in July with morale low and results elusive. Hwange did not have the player quality to match their opponents and had their morale dampened at some stage of the season when they were robbed of a result at Shamva when a corner kick was taken while their goalkeeper was sprawling on the turf after being fouled.
They conceded a goal from the incident and never rose to wage a serious challenge thereafter when they were under Nation Dube.
Players’ confidence was also affected when fans fought on the terraces accusing some former club players and technical team of having cast a spell on the side.
Arenel, who like last year appeared to have financial challenges, were never in it from the beginning despite some decently talented players like Crispen Machisi, Njabulo Ngwenya, Aron Ngwenya and Polite Mwenda.
Chiefs lost many players, a number big enough to start a match at 3pm and never replaced them with quality. Despite their financial position improving late into the season, the die had already been cast that they will be playing Division One football.
The Southern Region loss of three clubs has laid it bare that the Castle Lager Premiership has teams with money and others among them the traditional giants Dynamos and Highlanders ever gasping for breath with their financial obligations too high.
It is back to the drawing board for the relegated Southern Region clubs. But for Hwange, the executive and head of secretariat Khumbulani Mbano will have to do some self-introspection about the future of the “yoyo” club and their involvement.
