This is perhaps the biggest question posed by multitudes of soccer enthusiasts following the finalisation of the bottom four teams that dropped off the PSL and the quartet that was promoted to fill their slots.
Controversially assembled lowveld side, Chiredzi FC, were the first to be relegated back to the less fashionable Division One league, followed by Bulawayo-based Bantu Rovers. Army side Black Rhinos and Shabanie Mine completed that on the last day of the league last week.
Southern Region Division One 2014 champions Tsholotsho FC, got the Matabeleland nod to rub shoulders with big boys in the Castle Lager PSL next season, while in the Northern Region, Flame Lily did the same.
The prison boys, Hwahwa FC, were drawn from the Central Region while in the Eastern region D1 league, Buffaloes Juniors got the shock promotion ahead of big sides like Mutare City, Mwenezana and Eastern Stars.
The big question is now on how the four debutants plan to survive in the highly-competitive league that is far more gruelling and league, and which requires both skill and a strong financial base.
Eddie Dube, the Buffaloes Junior manager, believes his side has enough stamina to withstand whatever it takes to be in the PSL. He also put his money on in-form veteran striker Evans Chikwaikwai, who has had successful stints at other local clubs and South Africa’s Bidvest Wits.
On the other hand, Flame Lily coach Nesbert Saruchera, whose contract at the Chikurubi-based side lapses before year-end, also insisted his outfit would match the heat in the PSL, singling out veteran goalkeeper Earnmore Hamandishe and former Black Rhinos defender, Brighton Chandisaita as the torchbearers of the club.
The Lizwe Sweswe-coached Tsholotsho FC, who made history when they became the first team from a rural area to make it into the topflight league, are geared for the action and vowed they would not be in the league “to add numbers.”
Club chairman Mlamuli Phiri said they would get the moral strength from the dedication they made to the late vice-president, John Nkomo, because after his body lay in state at their home ground before leaving for the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare. They are yet to lose a match on their home turf.
Post published in: Football