mbulelo smpofu
Raymond Jaravaza in Gwanda, raymondjaravaza@gmail.com
JUST nine months after the team was formed and launched, new kids on the block Gwanda Pirates — the champions in waiting — are ready to play with the big boys next year.
The Zifa Matabeleland South Division Two outfit are just one game away from being crowned champions if they win their title deciding match against Jessie Mine this afternoon in the mining town of Gwanda.
The match is scheduled to be played at Egodini Grounds.
The permutations in the Matabeleland South Division Two point to Gwanda Pirates taking home the championship title.
Gwanda Pirates need a straight forward victory to win the league without bothering to check how close rivals Mawabeni played.
In the event that the champions in waiting fail to get three points and instead draw against Jessie Mine, without scoring a goal, then Mawabeni must win their match and score eight goals or more.
For a team that has eyes on the trophy and cannot allow the title to slip through their fingers on the last day of the league run, club chairman Guqukani Mpofu said the boys are raring to go.
For perspective’s sake, Mpofu took the Sunday News Sport through a brief history of the club.
“We (the club owners) are just a group of guys who came together and decided to form a football club. Every Friday we meet and contribute funds towards the running of the club,” said Mpofu.
Running a football club is a costly affair, which doesn’t guarantee instant returns, but the youthful owners of Gwanda Pirates are not worried about that reality. For them, money invested in running the club is money well spent.
“We are looking at the bigger picture which is getting the youths of Gwanda off the streets and yes we are spending money running the club but we are happy with the project and the direction that it is taking,”
Today is D-day for the young club.
Mpofu is confident the team will win the coveted title.
“The journey has been hard. We are only nine months old, we keep learning every day and hopefully tomorrow we will win the title,” he said.
If the team clinches the title this afternoon, Zifa Central Region football beckons for Gwanda Pirates. The executive is not under the illusion that life in Division One will be rosy.
“We are already having headaches right now at the thought of playing in Division One next year. It will be very expensive running the club in Division One but we are ready. We will embark on a number of projects to generate money and we are also hopeful other sponsors will come on board,” said Mpofu.
Gwanda Pirates has also made a name for itself in the social media space with their vibrant and creative presence.
Based in the mining community of Gwanda, the club has become a favourite among the locals, with their steady and penetrative influence.
Drawing inspiration from relegated Premiership side, Bulawayo Chiefs, Gwanda Pirates have earned the nickname “Twitter Kings” for their informative and entertaining posts.
The team is led by former Chrome Stars player Yolamu Ngwira, and is motivated by the love of the game and the hunger of young people who want to play football.
