Hippo Valley close shop MOSES CHUNGA
MOSES CHUNGA

MOSES CHUNGA

Augustine Hwata in HARARE , Oscar Rusenga in TRIANGLE
FORMER Zimbabwe captain Moses Chunga’s success in the Zifa Eastern Region Division One championship has been deflated after Hippo Valley announced that they will be dissolving the team. This also means that the highly anticipated Lowveld Premiership derby will not be played in the Premiership next season.

Chunga had been hoping to lead Hippo Valley into the Premiership next season, but that won’t be possible after the owners of the team announced that they will be selling the franchise.

Last month Chunga took a dig at some of the managers at the company after he was allegedly asked to go and cut sugar cane as part of his orientation into being employed by the company.

A dark cloud was hovering over the Hippo Valley Estates yesterday when the Tongaat Hulett management announced they could not afford to fund two clubs in the Premiership next year.

Tongaat Hulett already bankroll Triangle and the two teams now look set to be merged next season to play as Triangle FC.

The company management yesterday broke the sad news to the players from Hippo Valley and Triangle while the club officials and technical teams were conspicuous by their absence.

Chunga was head coach at Hippo Valley with the assistance of Warren Mapanga and Taku Shariwa while Gishon Ntini is coaching at Triangle and was being assisted by Gift Muzadzi.

Tongaat Hulett said they will channel resources to one club that should be a formidable one come next season.

Human resources director Fred Nyangwe, whose portfolio takes care of sports, stressed that it was a difficult decision to make and said they had also considered that the company was not operating as well as management would want.

“With the Premiership budget pegged at around 580 000 for one team, the company will only be able to sponsor one team, which is Triangle.

“We have already advised PSL and Zifa about our current position,” he said.

Nyangwe said Hippo Valley will not even participate in the Zifa Eastern Division One next season.

“It’s very sad because Hippo Valley Football Club played very well and deserved to be in the top league but it’s very unfortunate that it happened when the company was going through tough times,” he said.

Triangle was given first preference to get players from Hippo Valley.

“The decision is entirely up to Gishon to try and take some quality players from Hippo Valley as we need to build a formidable side.

“Other players will be allowed to look for other teams and others can go as free agents,” said Nyangwe.

Ntini said it was unfortunate that their sister club has been forced to close shop as he had been hoping to a Premiership derby from the Lowveld.

He said he needed about four players from Hippo Valley although he will need to make proper consultations before taking any action.

“It’s unfortunate that Hippo Valley will not participate next season after all the effort, I would have loved to meet them in the top-flight and continue to entertain the people of South East Lowveld next season but I wish the boys and staff all the best,” said Ntini.

Hippo Valley assistant coach, Takura Shariwa, said he had not been made aware of any developments to disband the team.

“I am not aware of anything and I think I am not the right person to comment about that”, he said.

But human resources executive, Thomas Dheka, said the football stakeholders have to move forward and rally behind Triangle.

He also said Hippo Valley players will be given their salaries and terminal benefits.

“It’s very sad for the community of Hippo Valley but the only way forward is to build a good team,” Dheka.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey