SPARE A THOUGHT FOR ZAIRE
IT appears all the hype, which greeted Chegutu Pirates’ sensational qualification for the domestic Premiership has ended and the future doesn’t look good.
It’s now business as usual and, as the town prepares to celebrate the Christmas and New Year holidays, it looks like Zairemania, which swept this settled like nothing we have seen before, has faded into the horizon.
Chegutu residents will tell you they had never seen the state-of-the-art vehicles which drove into their town, from around the country, for the two league matches against Black Mambas and Herentals junior team.
Zaire needed to win both matches, to secure a place in the top-flight league, for the first time in their history, and they did just that.
The fans came from all over the country and transformed the local economy of this farming and mining town.
The belief among the residents was that all these people would regroup and map the way forward to assist in the building of a competitive team and the refurbishment of Pfupajena Stadium.
However, the stadium is still stuck in its poor state and one would think it is meant to host some boozers side and not a Premier League team.
Without Pfupajena, the Pirates won’t survive in the Premiership.
With Pfupajena and their crowd, which is one of the best group of fans in the country, they have a big chance.
They were unbeaten at Pfupajena throughout the season.
The Chegutu Town Council, who own the club, have issued a statement that there are financially constrained and cannot sponsor Chegutu Pirates in the Premiership.
It’s a pity that after all those years of trying to play in top-flight football, Pirates now find themselves looking for a home ground away from Chegutu.
Some of the greatest footballers who played at Pfupajena and failed to bring Premiership football to Chegutu include Benjamin Mwaruwari, Kenneth Computer Jere, the late Felix Banda, Moses Mwafulila and Yusuf Sabiti.
Chegutu Pirates is easily the most supported small town community football club in this country. Right now, the hope is that Prophet Walter Magaya will come and help find a way to ensure the Pirates play at Pfupajena,
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