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Professor Jonathan Moyo greetsTsholotsho FC players in this file photo

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO Football Club patron Professor Jonathan Moyo has rallied the relegation threatened Premiership debutants to rise to the occasion and deliver the necessary result when they take on Harare City at White City Stadium this afternoon.

A positive result for Iziqholo zeZhwane will ensure they survive relegation regardless of the Buffaloes and Dynamos’ result as they will take their points tally to 33. It is without doubt that even neutrals, not only in Zimbabwe but across our borders, who have been charmed by Tsholotsho’s life story, will be totally rooting for the survival of the only rural-based premier league team in the country.

Memories are still fresh of a then Division Two Tsholotsho that played all their matches in Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni Suburb as other clubs refused to travel to Tsholotsho arguing that the team was from Matabeleland North and therefore they should have affiliated to the Dennis Chuma-led league in the province.

Bankrolled by Mandla Manyathela, Iziqholo zeZhwane soldiered on and their resilience finally paid off last season when they won the Zifa Southern Region Division One League sole ticket to the Premiership, losing just a single match.

Their life story is also believed to have won the hearts of SuperSport, with sources telling Chronicle Sport that the satellite television channel might bankroll the team, provided they survive the chop this season.

Professor Moyo, who is also the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, however, believes the boys will indeed rise to the occasion this afternoon.

“I’ve no doubt that providence will be on the side of Tsholotsho because, while the result will be decided by how the boys play on the field all prayers from Tsholotsho and indeed from the multitudes of neutrals across the country and in the Zimbabwe diaspora will be with Iziqholo zeZhwane,” he said.

Professor Moyo, who is also the House of Assembly representative for Tsholotsho North, said losing for Iziqholo zeZhwane this afternoon was not an option.

“Losing isn’t an option and the boys know that and so I’ve total confidence in them that they’ll deliver the necessary result as they must,” he said.

Tsholotsho will troop into the White City Stadium turf without their central defence duo of skipper William Stima and Thandolwenkosi Ncube, two players that have been a vital cog for the Lizwe Sweswe-coached side.

Sweswe though does not want the absence of the duo to affect the team and says he has enough arsenal in his camp to fill the gap.

“Obviously Stima and Thando have been vital cogs during our campaign but we’ve got equally good players who can fill that gap. I know that the players who are coming in are going to do a good job of shutting out our opponents,” said Sweswe, one of the few coaches in the land with very good motivational skills and an eye for talent.

Harare City, who lost 1-3 to Chicken Inn last Saturday, a result that saw the GameCocks clinching the league title, will be eager for revenge after being stunned 1-0 by Tsholotsho in the opening match of the 2015 Premiership season through a Simbarashe Gorogodyo goal.