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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
MOSES Chunga is a heartbroken man who feels bitterly disappointed after his historic achievement, to take Hippo Valley into the Premiership for the first time, counted for nothing when the club’s franchise was dissolved this week. Although Chunga chose to be diplomatic yesterday, telling The Herald that he had not yet been officially advised of the decision to disband the Hippo Valley franchise, sources within his backroom staff said the former Zimbabwe skipper had been shattered by the developments.

“I have not yet received anything officially in writing or through official channels like a meeting advising me that Hippo Valley will not play in the Premier League next year and, so, I think it is premature for me to say anything right now,” said Chunga.

“When my bosses advise me what is happening, where we are going, where we will be come next season, then I will be able to comment.

“I have to respect those who employ me because they are my superiors and I am quite sure that they will advise me when the right time comes. I have been reading things in the newspapers right now.”

But members of his backroom staff said Chunga was a disappointed man who felt that he had been abused by those who brought him to the Lowveld and convinced him to work on the Hippo Valley project, on a long-term basis, to develop football in that area.

“Bambo is not happy at all and I think you can understand that because he was so sure that he was going to do something special at Hippo Valley and had developed a special bond with the community in the Lowveld,” said one of his backroom staff members.

“He is upset that the team’s promotion to the Premier Soccer League was known a long time ago but some people chose to wait for the very last minute to announce that the team will not be playing in the Premier League and, up to now, he hasn’t been advised officially about that position.

“He cares about his players and feels it’s unfair for these guys that they have to know that their team will not be playing in the Premier League next year, despite all the efforts they put in this year, through the newspapers and so late in the year.

“He says he is staying in the Lowveld because he went there on a mission to develop football in that area and he feels that mission is still to be accomplished, I’m not sure what that means and in what capacity will he be operating, but he said he won’t coach Triangle because that’s not what he went there to do.”

The Premier Soccer League said yesterday that they will be guided by Zifa on the next step to take after Hippo Valley announced that they will not take up the slot in the top-flight league in the new season.

Hippo Valley were one of the four teams that were promoted recently following a brilliant run under Chunga as they finished comfortably on top of the table ahead of Mutare City Rovers in the Zifa Eastern Region Division One League.

Hippo Valley were expected to make their Premiership debut alongside Northern Region champions ZPC Kariba, Bulawayo Chiefs from Southern Region and returnees from Central Region Chapungu.

The dissolution of Hippo Valley could pose a challenge to the league since the constitution is clear about the promotions and relegations.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele yesterday said they cannot craft the way forward as Hippo Valley were yet to be affiliated with the league.

“The constitution says four teams from the four regions shall be promoted at the beginning of the season and I am not sure what will happen here because this is the first time that this has happened,” said Ndebele.

“We are waiting to get full details from the mother association.

“We have not yet received communication from Zifa on that issue and as a league we cannot comment much on the disbandment of Hippo Valley because they were not yet affiliated with the PSL.”

The Loweveld side was disbanded this week after the club’s owners Tongaat Hulett felt that they could not finance two teams in the Premiership in 2014 as they already have another side, Triangle, which finished eighth in their debut season.

Tongaat Hulett human resources director Fred Nyangwe, whose portfolio takes care of sport, said with the budget for running just one Premiership club now in excess of US$500 000, it wasn’t possible, in the current difficult operating environment, for his company to bankroll two clubs in the top-flight league. He said Hippo Valley would not even be affiliated to the Zifa Eastern Region Division One league.

“It’s very sad because Hippo Valley Football Club played very well. They have instructed sister club Triangle to get some players from the dissolved outfit to assemble one strong squad for next season while the remaining players will be paid their terminal benefits.

This will also mean that Hippo Valley coach Moses Chunga and his assistant Takura Shariwa have to look elsewhere for jobs, be in the top league and it’s very unfortunate that it happened when the company was going through tough times,” said Nyangwe, who revealed Triangle would be given first preference to get the players they wanted from Hippo Valley.

“The decision is entirely up to Gishon (Ntini) 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.”

It was not clear by yesterday whether PSL would fill the void by promoting the team which finished second in the Eastern Region or would engage in play-offs with all the runners-up from the four regions.

Zifa Communications manager Xolisani Gwesela yesterday said they have since received the communication from Hippo Valley and were working on the best possible solution.

Gwesela said Zifa will consult with the stakeholders who also include officials from the club and the Zifa Eastern Region leadership before making their decision.

“Zifa would like to confirm that we have received a letter from Hippo Valley (FC) to the effect that they have disbanded and that they are no longer participating in the Premier Soccer League in 2014. The association would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation that no conclusion has been reached, hence no decision has been taken regarding the team that will replace Hippo Valley.

“It is only after consultations and discussions with concerned stakeholders that the association will come up with a decision. A public statement will be issued afterwards,” said Gwesela.