Zimpapers Logo

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Sports Correspondent
IN a move meant to endear Premiership newcomers Whawha with the Gweru community the prisons and correctional services outfit has roped in civilians within its executive.

Whawha will also hold its annual general meeting today at Raylton Sports Club where the proposed changes will be adopted while the club’s supporters’ committee will also be elected.

The club which had a frosty relationship with the community towards the end of last season when it gained promotion and the early part of the off-season after rumours started to circulate that it was going to sell its franchise, has made a strong indication that it is an integral part of the Gweru community.

Veteran football administrator Malvern Paradza has been roped into the “Chekera Pasi” structures as the Gweru outfit is affectionately known as the deputy club secretary.

Paradza who has held the post of secretary at the now defunct former Premiership side, Hardbody and Gweru City, will deputise Jimiel Marecha.

Insiders said more changes are set to be made in the executive committee as the club seeks to reflect a community outlook.

Marecha said Whawha’s thrust is to have the community playing a part.

“The institution belongs to the people, hence we found it prudent to have civilians as part of the executive structure. The annual general meeting tomorrow (today) will deal with constitutional issues and if adopted we will see more civilian faces in the Whawha structures.

“Elections for the supporters’ committee will also be held and the mandate of the supporters’ executive will be to co-ordinate activities of the club’s supporters and accompany the team to its assignments.

Like I said before we’re a community team and as such incorporating supporters into the side is taking the club to the people,” he said.

Whawha won the sole promotional ticket from the Zifa Central Soccer League and becomes the fifth side to be promoted since the fourth football region was inaugurated in 2010.

FC Platinum (then Mimosa) was the first side to be promoted before Hardbody earned promotion in 2011.

Now defunct Beitbridge side, Tripple B, earned promotion in 2012 before Chapungu made a return to the topflight league in 2013.

However, only FC Platinum has emerged to become a force to reckon with in the Zifa Central Soccer League while Chapungu has managed to survive the dreaded chop.

Hardbody and Tripple B found the going tough in the league and were relegated in their debut seasons before folding.

However, Whawha mentor Luke Jukulile-Petros, whose charges take on Caps United in their debut Premiership match at Ascot Stadium on Sunday, is adamant that his charges would not be one season wonders.

“We have a bunch of talented youngsters who’ll be a revelation this season and people should not write us off.

“Whawha is not a team to fight relegation,” he said.