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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
NEWLY promoted Premiership side, Whawha, will conduct trials on Monday in a move meant to reinforce the team ahead of the season. It will be the club’s start of preparations and the trials will be held at the complex despite the team set to use Gweru as its home. Preparations by the prisons and correctional services side comes after the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) re-affirmed their commitment to bankroll the Zifa Central Region champions following reports that the organisation could not afford to sponsor two teams in the elite league.

Flame Lily, who won the sole promotion ticket into the Premiership from the Zifa Northern Region, are also a prisons team.

Whawha chairperson, Musa Ntonga, confirmed the development and said the trials are meant to beef up the side so that they will be competitive this season.

“We’ll be holding trials at Whawha Prisons as from Monday and we’re calling on players who want to be part of the team to come forward and try their luck and who knows they might be part of the Whawha side to play Premiership football this season.

“The move is meant to beef up the team so that we’re very competitive in the Premiership,” she said.

Former Zimbabwe international Luke Jukulile-Petros, who guided the prisons and correctional side into the Castle Lager Premiership, said after the trials he would be able to make a few additions to ensure that Whawha hold their own in the Premier League.

Said Jukulile-Petros: “Our preparations for the season begin on Monday when we’ll be holding trials and after that we’ll identify areas which need reinforcement.”

The former Lancashire Steel and Kaizer Chiefs forward said he hopes to avoid relegation in their maiden season.

Meanwhile, Whawha’s most prized asset Albert “Dracula” Matewu has dismissed rumours that he is leaving the club.

Matewu, who was the Zifa Central Soccer League’s top goalscorer with 24 goals, has been linked with a number of premiership clubs which are after his signature including Chicken Inn.

“Dracula” said he is committed to Whawha’s cause and will not be going anywhere.