The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ONE of the new teams in the Zimbabwe Football Association Central Region Division One League, The Venue are aiming to avoid relegation this season with the aim to fight to get into the Premier Soccer League after three seasons.
The Maphisa-based side earned promotion into the Central Region Division One when they finished as the top team in the Zifa Matabeleland South Pool B in 2018 with Filabusi United second. Sandile Maphosa, The Venue secretary outlined their mission for this season, whose priority is to survive the chop and finish in the top 10. Maphosa is confident that with the kind of squad they are putting together, after three seasons in Division One, they can take Premiership football to Matobo District. “This is our first season in Division One, we want to avoid relegation, it would be a bonus if we can finish in the top 10. We have kept the bulk of the squad we had last season, we just added a few experienced guys who have played in Division One before. With the squad we have assembled, after three seasons we should be playing in Premier Soccer League,” Maphosa said.
Sandile Maphosa The Venue FC secretary
Based at Maphisa Growth Point, The Venue got their name from their sponsors, Tapson and Bokani Ncube who run a business by that name in the area. The team was formed in 2016 and joined the Zifa Matabeleland South Division Two League the following year.
In terms of their home ground, The Venue are looking to make use of Minda High School which they are getting ready to meet the necessary standards.
Admore Sibanda The Venue coach
“We are based at Maphisa Growth Point and our home ground will be Minda High School, we are preparing it to meet the required standards so that when the season starts its ready. The Venue is a community team for Matobo District, we get support from the business community,’’ he said.
Mthokozisi Nyathi got The Venue promoted into Division One but with the coach not having the required Caf B, the club has had to hire Admore Sibanda. EzeMatobo have not played much in terms of friendly matches, a strategy Maphosa said is meant to catch their opponents by surprise. They were recently beaten 3-1 by Bulawayo Chiefs in a friendly fixture at Raylton Sports Club in Bulawayo.
On Saturday, The Venue are planning to play against Highlanders developmental side, Bosso90 as part of their official launch where they will be presented with their trophy for being Division Two Champions.
“We don’t want to play against the teams we will be playing with so that we can take the other teams by surprise. If all goes well, we want Highlanders to send Bosso90, this is the game we are using to launch our team on Saturday 23 March. We are also being presented with our trophy for being Division Two champions,” Maphosa said.
Maphosa appealed to the business community to support the team so that they do not go the same route as World Vision, a team that was also based in Maphisa who failed to take up a Division One slot in 2010. While they do have their two buses, Maphosa said the challenge will be fuel, referees fees as well as the welfare of their players.
