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Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
WARRIORS captain Marvelous Nakamba and his father Antony have congratulated ZPC Hwange on their promotion to the Castle Lager Premiership.

The club won the Zifa Southern Region Division One title and holds a special place in the Nakamba family.

Marvelous’ father Antony played for the club in the early years of its Division One campaign, which has seen the club reap the rewards after over 30 years of challenging and playing second fiddle to the likes of AmaZulu, Railstars, Chicken Inn, Chrome, Lancashire, Shushine, Chapungu and Arenel.

“Obviously, as a family, we are very excited that our home side has been promoted. It holds a special place in our hearts because it is the first professional side my dad played for. If I am not mistaken it may have been in their maiden campaign in Division One. Growing up there was always that talk that it was my dad’s team, so naturally I have a soft spot for it.

“Coming from my home town Hwange, where I kicked the first ball, I am happy to see ZPC gain promotion into the Premiership, hoping that the feat will motivate more players from Hwange and surrounding areas that include Jambezi, Lukhosi, Dete, Kamativi, Binga and Victoria Falls, will step up and take up football as a career,” said Nakamba from South Africa where he is in camp with the Warriors.

Marvelous Nakamba

In his congratulatory message, Nakamba said it was his wish to have Zifa lock the gates so that ZPC Hwange do not return to Division One.

“Congratulations ZPC Hwange. I hope you get locked up in the PSL and do not return to Division One, you have earned your stripes and deserve to stay there forever. It is, however, important that while you celebrate you self-introspect and do the right steps now during the off-season so that in 2025 you get into action equipped for the challenge,” added the Warriors skipper.

The elder Nakamba, Antony, who is always shy from speaking to the media, was full of praise for his former teammate Mebelo Njekwa and ZPC Hwange’s management.

“I am so happy that Njekwa a local is the first man to gain promotion with this club. He has worked hard with the administration and we are so proud of them and we wish them all the success in the Premiership.

“As a former club goalkeeper while a schoolboy at Hwange Secondary School, the club gave me my break in professional football and I will always be grateful for the opportunity they granted me to build a career. It is a good Christmas present for the people of Hwange and Matabeleland North. Tiyeni, tiyeni masero,” said Antony.

He played alongside the Gumbo brothers, Richard and Gilbert, Fanyana Mguni, Joel Chinguwa, Chabuka Mwale, Sylvester Zvikumbawire, Johannes Mathe, Moses Chimusoro and Cosmas Ngwenya as the club made its debut in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.

Successive coaches, including Dick Banda, Nyaro Mumba, Nehemiah Dube, Lindele Dube and Jairos Tapera, failed to get the team into the Premiership.

Antony was with the club for a year before being snatched to compete with the Tshumas, Isaac and Johannes in the Hwange side that campaigned in the then Super League.