Quelaton franchise up for grabs

FORMER Premiership side Quelaton have put their Zifa Southern Region Division One League franchise on the market for an undisclosed fee.

The Bulawayo club was relegated from the topflight league last season after just spending a year in the Premier Soccer League.

Quelaton had an awful Premiership season as they only won three out of their 30 games.

The club had challenges in terms of resources as its director Tawanda Ruzive had the burden of meeting all the team's costs.

In an interview yesterday, Ruzive who is Quelaton's proprietor, said he was selling the club franchise so that he could start at a lower league.

Ruzive admitted that life in the Premiership was not rosy. He said they were returning to the lower league with much needed experience to put their house in order.

"As things stand, I am open to negotiations for anyone who wants the franchise. What I want to promise is that whoever buys the franchise will get it at the right price. What I want is to start from the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Division Two Soccer League. If I fail to get a buyer, I just have to start planning for the season.

"The experience we got from playing in the elite league was invaluable and we now know what to do to get things right. This is the time for us to put a plan of action because we are targeting at returning to the Premiership in 2015. I am giving myself two seasons in the lower leagues because we are starting with youngsters and by then they will be mature for PSL action," said Ruzive.

He said he has held talks with the country's second oldest soccer club Zimbabwe Saints who sunk to the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Division Two Soccer League after being relegated from the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League last season.

Chikwata were axed from the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League alongside Power Cosmos of Hwange, Sizani Fruits and Veg, Emakhandeni Pirates and Projects FC. Victoria Falls' Sao Paulo threw in the towel mid season.

Ruzive said nothing concrete came out from the Saints meeting.

Another club which might be interested in a Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League is Plumtree's FC Kombani.

Besides lack of resources, the other thing that might be forcing Ruzive to start in the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Division Two Soccer League is that most of the players he had last season are seeking greener pastures.

"As a club we have always had an open door policy where we do not stand in the way of players that want to move. Even before the end of last season, we had some clubs showing interest in our players and as a result, some of our players are staying in the Premiership," said Ruzive.

Steely defender Zibusiso 'Mzimara' Sibanda, a product of New West City who was a marvel at Quelaton last season, is rumoured to be on his way to Caps United alongside midfieleders Mhleli Sibanda and Innocent Kutsanzira.

If Kutsanzira's move to the capital materialises, he will join his elder brother Rahman at the Green Machine.

Also on their way out are midfielders Timothy January and Eddie Nkulungo.

Comments