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HWANGE FC in the early 1980s. From left standing: Dennis Gumunyu, Melvin Kennedy, Chrispen Nyoni, Dennis Banda, Skeva Phiri, Barton Mwalukuka, Isaac Phiri, Tobias Sibanda, Austin Ncube and Rodrick Simwanza.
Crouching: Paul Moyo (coach), David Phiri, Posani Sibanda, Weekly Mwale, Fred Mwatonoka and Benson Soko. Most of these players came from local league clubs like Brazil, Kabwe Warriors and Rufaro Rovers.

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
THE financial problems being faced by Hwange Colliery Company Limited have not spared sport in the town with many football clubs crumbling.Most of them have survived on the benevolence of the local community who have backed the teams from the 1970s at their inception.

Hwange were the major backers of the clubs, supporting a local league which had the General Manager’s Trophy as the season-ending event.

Richard Sakala, chairman of the now-defunct Rufaro Rovers, kicked out of the Matabeleland North Zifa Division Two league recently, bemoaned the state of affairs in the town.

“The Colliery has always been the heartthrob of the town. All life in Hwange revolves around the coal mining giant.  If there are problems at the company the whole of Hwange suffers in one way or the other.

“Sport has been a big casualty. Some of our clubs were heavily reliant on the mine and the goodwill of the community. It’s been the case from the club’s inception in 1972,” said Sakala, the chairman of the former Lwendulu and Hwange football giants.

Rufaro, home to former Hwange players like Alberto Kaunda, Obert Moyo, Alick Nyoni, Walter Chuma, Brian Njobvu, Fabian Zulu, Marko Kayonga, Lucky “Rufaro” Mwanza, Pius Nyathi, Method  Mwanjali, David Zulu, Kenny Ngulube, Leonard Tembo, Kakoma Kayonga, Vitalis Kamocha, Johannes Kazambia Tshuma, Benson Soko and Andrew Banda have been the torch bearers with Iwisa for Lwendulu Village, otherwise known as Number One.

“Such is the history of our club Rufaro.  We will be back in business when the economy is better in the town. In the meantime it’s back to the drawing board. We wish the local league Hwange Amateur Football Association (Wafa) was still active, then more people would be active at a minimal cost,” said Sakala.

The Hwange Premiership team used to draw a lot of its players from Wafa. There was a viable league in which those not part of the first team played week in, week out.

Competition was dominated by Rufaro Rovers, Brazil, Kabwe, Black Aces (Raylton), Zobalikanazo, Ozondiwa, Marathon, Iwisa, Raith Rovers and Zulu Royals.

Brazil another popular team from Makwika Village (Number Three) is struggling. They are playing in the Matabeleland North Division Two league. Among some of the best known players to turn out for Brazil are Skeva Phiri, Philimon Nyathi, Masauso Phiri, Isaac Phiri and Freddy Matonoka.

The financial woes have also affected Iwisa another team that has made its mark in Hwange football, dominating competitions around the district from 1983.

Kabwe Warriors chairman, Francis Mwinga, himself a former Hwange FC player, said the economic situation at the mine had adversely affected their ambitions of playing professional football.

“We were promoted to Division One football at the start of the year. We have found the going tough because of lack of funding. Our club has for a long time been supported by the Colliery and the community. When there is no money among our members who mostly work here, then there is no football life at all. It is sad to see the work of generations going down the drain. There is nothing we can do as executive members except to wish for things to get better,” said Mwinga.

Kabwe have been the home of the late Barton Mwalukuka, Mwinga, Sam Mutende, Gideon Nyathi, Crispen Nyoni, Abuit Phiri, the late Austin Ncube, John Nkonde, Mwape Sakala, Posani Sibanda and Rodrick Simwanza, David Phiri, Tobias Sibanda, Samuel Ngwenya and Barry Daka. All these players turned out for Hwange at some stage and are very much in the soccer history of the town.

Misheck Ncube, a former Rufaro Rovers coach, said almost all of Hwange sport was crippled at the moment. He said he felt the company was doing all it could for the community under the circumstances.

“Sport cannot be looked at in isolation. We are happy though that we can look up to our Premiership side to please the thousands in the town. At the moment the boys are playing well and we can temporarily forget about our clubs that have been affected by the economic situation,” said Ncube.

A sportsperson who did not want to be named said their career is going down because of lack of activity.
“At times you have to sympathise with the organisation. The bigger picture is all workers getting up to date with their salaries, which is something a bit in the distance. So most of sport in the town will as a result suffer but we hope soon problems will be a thing of the past,” said the athlete.

For a long time, the pulse of the town has been around the Zimbabwe Power Company, Hwange Colliery Company and the National Railways of Zimbabwe.

With Hwange Colliery Company and NRZ struggling, life in the town has become a huge yawn with people struggling for a decent living.  Most have had to rely from handouts from friends and relatives.