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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
ONCE a football powerhouse in Zimbabwe credited for churning out talented stars, Zimbabwe Saints who were on the brink of extinction, are back in local football. Chauya Chikwata are starting from the grassroots – the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Division Two Soccer League, replacing Casmyn FC who were elevated to the Southern Region Soccer League.

Magwegwe Pirates were expelled from the First Division for failing to show commitment by either paying part of their affiliation fees or attending the pre-season induction course as well as the annual general meeting.

The Bulawayo club was thrown out of the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League last year after failing to pay $2,500 affiliation fees and spent the better part of last season on the sidelines plotting their comeback.

Zimbabwe Saints cleared their arrears with the Zifa Southern Region who in turn cleared them to join the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Division Two Soccer League as a new club.

They have since paid $800 affiliation fees levied on new clubs while older teams forked out $600.

“Zimbabwe Saints have filled the gap left by Casmyn FC and are one of the clubs who have paid in full their affiliation fees. They registered with us on Tuesday,” said Washington Chimanda, Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province chairman.

Zimbabwe Saints, just like all their competitors in the league are left with five days to submit their season’s squad.

They are yet to appoint their technical teams for their Division Two squad as well as their juniors.

Vincent Pamire, a spokesman for the club’s board of trustees said they are finalising with their prospective coaches this weekend.

The former Zifa boss said Zimbabwe Saints are in “no rush” to get promoted into the First Division as they intend to “first lay a strong foundation” before putting a strong challenge.

“What we learnt and realised is that there are no shortcuts to success. The board of trustees agreed that the club should start from the basics, that is at junior level. If you look into the history of Zimbabwe Saints you will discover that it was a force to reckon with because of a vibrant junior policy and that is the route we are taking,” said Pamire.

“We are going it all alone without partnering any club because we believe that as Zimbabwe Saints we are our own brand and we are going to nurse our products from the Under-14s to Under-18.”

Meanwhile, the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Division Two Soccer League kicks off on April 11 and clubs are expected to have paid at least half of their affiliation fees by March 28.