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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Sports Correspondent
BORDER Strikers of Beitbridge make a welcome return to the Zifa Central Soccer League (CSL) after a four-season sabbatical.
The club was booted out of the second tier league at the end of the 2010 season after having failed to settle outstanding affiliation fees which saw the former executive members splitting to form two rival clubs.

Some members led by Eddie Kanyangu formed former Premiership outfit Tripple B while the late Roy Muleya and Ephart Shoko fronted FC Strikers, a development which divided the border town’s football fans.

Like the proverbial phoenix, Beitbridge’s oldest club is back in business and are now looking for a coach to guide the team into the Premiership.

Gibson Makhanda, the former Tripple B secretary who now occupies the same position at Strikers, said the hunt for a new coach is on.

“We’re back in the CSL. In fact we should have been back last season when we paid our affiliation fees but we could not play as all the slots had been taken up. As Border Strikers we’re coming in with a new thrust which is to develop local talent.

“We’ve taken on board players based here and we also want the technical department to be a wholly Beitbridge affair. So far we’re considering Stanley Ncube and Hillary Mukuruva to take over the reins.

“We’ve not shut the door to other coaches based here who would want to be part of the technical team,” Makhanda said.

Strikers will soon begin their pre-season preparations when the coach is appointed and the bulk of players are expected to be drawn from defunct teams such as Town United, Tripple B and FC Strikers.

The club is set to be launched on February 28.