Local stars not giving up
Amavarara sell apparel to fans, open butchery to keep in game
Amavarara have had a season to remember. Earlier this year, the Komani soccer team reached the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup, the biggest cup competition in SA, while managing to summit the ABC Motsepe log for more than six weeks.
While that rich vein of form has since diminished and they are now sixth on the log, it is easy to forget that this was the team s second season in the ABC league.
The lustre of being the only team in the Chris Hani region to ever be drawn against a PSL team will never be forgotten.
While hopes of a return seem less likely by the day, Amavarara chairperson Lusapho Mzwakali said he was happy. We got on a plane, flew to OR Tambo and our fans watched us live on TV,” he said. The season should resume.
Soccer is being played overseas. I see no reason why we cannot play here. Covid-19 has affected everyone the same, but other industries have opened. This season's triumph managed to paper over longheld fears that the team might suffer the same fate as East London outfit, Tornado FC, which was liquidated as a result of financial woes.
In February, players almost downed tools when they were not paid.
At the time, Mzwakali said assistance promised to the team had not materialised.
He said he was positive about their financial prospects in future.
We received funding before the last 16 match from the [Chris Hani] municipality.
All I can say is the matter is receiving attention at the highest level of the district. I am positive about the future.”
Mzwakali said the team was now proactively looking into alternative revenue streams. We have started selling team apparel.
For the next three years we will focus on building our brand.
We want to get our fans wearing our colours - that will be the driving strategy. The target is to have at least 1,000 shirts sold. Currently we have sold more than 100. People buying the apparel will go a long way in helping the club to be self-sustaining. We are also looking into diversifying and recently opened a butchery to have a source of revenue.”
Next on the team s agenda is ’ the GladAfrica championship, with Mzwakali setting 2024 as the year for promotion.