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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League relegation escapees Tsholotsho have set themselves a target of a top eight finish next season. Having survived ouster on the last day of the season largely because of fellow relegation candidates Buffaloes’ loss to former league champions Dynamos, Iziqholo zeZhwane feel they have since mastered the ropes and would now want to be counted among the big boys of the league.

Speaking during the team’s end of year awards function at Tsholotsho High School on Wednesday, team elder, Sicelo Dube, said their three-year plan of first cementing their stay in the league, then targeting a top eight finish in their second year before going for the big one in the third year was still well on course.

“We were given three years to bring the big one to Tsholotsho so we are still in line to do that, our aim and target next year is a top eight finish. Winning the league title next year is not really our major target but if it comes, it will be a bonus,” said Dube.

Turning to the issue of the much talked about Tsholotsho Stadium, Dube said they will launch a vigorous fundraising drive from next month as part of their resource mobilisation campaign towards the stadium construction.

He said a large chunk of the funds have since been raised and was confident that Tsholotsho would play some of their home games next season in Tsholotsho.

The government last year undertook to take over the construction of the stadium through the efforts of Tsholotsho North House of Assembly representative Professor Jonathan Moyo.

Prof Moyo led a high powered team of technical experts from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing who carried out a topographical survey of the site.

Minister Moyo last year said the Tsholotsho Stadium construction project met the national policy planning objective and as such qualified as a national project.