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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Saints FC’s return to football is taking shape with the club coaches set to conduct trials at Nguboyenja Ground today. Saints will field juniors and a Division Two team in the Bulawayo Province structures.

Club spokesperson and a member of the trustees, Vincent Pamire confirmed yesterday that the hunt for players had started.

He said the club had asked for a waiver on the deadline to submit papers for their players as they had secured a Division Two franchise late.

“We will have trials at Nguboyenja Ground tomorrow. We hope to come up with a good crop of players who will carry the Saints flag, embrace club values with a view of a Premiership return in five years.

“Our coaches will be out to identify good talent that’s showing promise. Players will be groomed from junior level to seniors by our competent coaches whom we’ve identified for the job at hand,” said Pamire who was part of the executive when Saints’ flame last glowed in Zimbabwe football.

In that year, 1988, Chikwata won the Chibuku Trophy and the league title with some of the best and biggest names to grace the local football scene.

Pamire said Khona Tshabangu and Dan Ngwenya had been tasked with the coaching role while Zimbabwe football legend Godfrey Paradza acts as manager.

“This is the coaching department which we believe will bring us results as we seek to move forward,” said Pamire.

Paradza, who played for Highlanders juniors, crossed over to Chikwata in the early 1980s, rising to be one of the best defenders in the land while turning out for Darryn T and Dynamos whom he captained to titles.

He attended some junior development courses with Tshabangu and they are expected to make a good combination while Ngwenya was Highlanders juniors assistant coach until last year. The decision to set base at Nguboyenja, Pamire said, was as a result of the club having a lot of history with Nguboyenja and Mzilikazi suburbs.

“Remember when the late Jani Gwede and Lazarus Zimangi churned out stars for the club, Nguboyenja was our base. Those glory days should return. We had a lot of support from the Nguboyenja and Mzilikazi communities back then.

“We also looked at the proximity of the venue to youths from other suburbs. Saints will embrace children from all over Bulawayo and we’re looking forward to a good turn out when trials start at 9AM,” said Pamire.

Saints were inactive last season.

Among some of the names to play for Chikwata are Gibson Homela, George Shaya, Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo, Muzondiwa Mugadza, Ronald Sibanda, Henry Mckop, Jimmy Phiri, Boyce Malunga, the late William Sibanda, Alick Mwanza, Andrew Kadengu, the late Onias Musana and Max Tshuma — all Zimbabwe football legends.

Among some of the club’s most successful coaches were Tendai Chieza, Howard Maviza and Roy Barreto.