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Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
NEWLY-PROMOTED Tsholotsho FC sponsor Mandla Manyathela has urged the Tsholotsho Rural District Council to provide his team with land to build a stadium at the business centre.

Manyathela warned that in the event of council failing to provide the land at the business centre, he will be left with no option but to move his team to Madona Line, a few kilometres from the business centre along Sipepa Road.

He said council had already allocated the community land to build a stadium at Madona Line.

“I want to challenge the council to come clean on the land issue before we relocate to Madona. What we don’t want and will never do is to take this team to Bulawayo or sell its franchise,” said Manyathela.

He was speaking during his team’s glittering end-of-year awards ceremony held at the Roman Catholic Church on Saturday.

“For the record, Tsholotsho will never be sold, we can’t let our supporters down,” said Manyathela.

“This is a people’s project and it will remain as such. Come the start of 2015 PSL season, teams will drive to this place for our league matches.”

Councillor Patrick Ngwenya, who chairs the finance committee, said they will work hard to ensure the stadium is built and that it meets the minimum PSL requirements.

Meanwhile, Butholezwe Ncube was named the club’s Player of the Year, Spar Dube scooped the Players’ Player of the Year and best defender awards.

Edmore Chirambadare won the Top Goalscorer of the Year while Nkosilathi Moyo was the Most Disciplined Player with Thandolwenkosi Ncube getting the Most Improved Player accolade.

Maclive Phiri went home with the Goal of the Season award.

Among the dignitaries at the function were the ZIFA Southern Region boss, Musa Mandaza, board member Brighton Malandule, Zisca representatives, Oscar Mazhambe and Marko Dube, the late Vice President Landa John Nkomo’s son Jabulani, Tsholotsho High School headmaster and respected member of the community Sicelo Dube, resident magistrate Abednico Ndebele and local councillors.

Ndebele is one of the founder members of the team with councillor Melusi Ndebele.

Mandaza said he does not want to see Tsholotsho in his league again and they should prepare well to stay in the top-flight league.

The team starts its pre-season preparations on January 6 next year.