Cash strapped Castle Lager Premier Soccer League debutants Kwekwe United have appealed to the football community to help them navigate through their financial crisis, which is threatening to put the league into disrepute.
Kwekwe have made headlines for the wrong reasons in the last few weeks, amid a financial crisis that has seen players going for months without salaries.
They arrived at their match against ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga 30 minutes after the scheduled kickoff time after players refused to board a bus, citing outstanding dues.
Saul Chaminuka’s charges downed tools again and did not feature for their home game against Herentals College last weekend, which was subsequently abandoned.
A video of club president Phil Makekera kneeling down before players and begging them to train went viral.
Addressing journalists at a press conference yesterday, club chairman Francis Tavagadza appealed for assistance from the football community.
“We are open for any kind of assistance, in terms of sponsorship. We call upon everyone who can come to assist us in any way so that the club can move forward,” said Tavagadza.
“We need US$35,000 to US$40,000 per month to run this club, and it’s not a small amount in these prevailing economic conditions. We need assistance from whoever can assist us.
Club president Phil Makekera begged the corporate world to chip in and save the club.
“This (Kwekwe) is the president’s home, and such things cannot be happening,” said Makekera.
“We call upon anyone who wishes to come on board and assist us. Assistance is not only financial; we also need fuel to travel. We have our own bus; what we don’t have is fuel,” he said.
