Shabanie Mine FC on the brink of collapse

One of the oldest clubs in the country is in a sorry state.

Shabanie Mine Football Club is probably the poorest club in the Premier Soccer League and mainly survives on hand-outs.

Currently, the pockets of Dumezweni Mahwite Mpofu, their biggest benefactor, are driving the Chinda Boys.

Also spurring the club is the fervent support of mainly unemployed former mine workers, who sacrifice out of their poverty just to watch their Maglas mining compound-based heroes.

The club's cry for assistance has grown so loud, but unheeded and relegation seems certain this season.

Shabanie Mine can barely manage just a week of camping, and travelling responsibilities for away matches, let alone player salaries and bonuses.

It remains a miracle how the team has managed to fulfil even their home games this season.

Luke Masomere, who played and also coached Shabanie Mine, aired his grief on the club's free-fall from grace.

"I have noticed that selfishness has affected the core of the team," Masomere said.

"I am saying this as someone who grew up in Zvishavane and played football there. I even had a fruitful stint as coach at Shabanie Mine and I have observed that some people are at the club just to serve their own interests.

"It is unfair to blame the current executive for failing the club because I believe these guys are professional and, according to my observation, since they were handed over power, Shabanie has taken a real football approach though financial constraints halt progress.

"Shabanie Mine has a lot of potential for sponsors, and is a very good market for business, but the truth is that no businessman or sponsor wants to be associated with people who are disorganised and greedy," Masomere said.

Just like any house on fire, power struggles fuel discontent which further widens the cracks on this crumbling house, leaving little hope of recovery.

The same power struggles prompted the departure of technical director Taku Shariwa, who, together with former coach Takesure Chiragwi, orchestrated Shabanie's incredible survival last season.

They steered the ship amid a financial storm.

While other clubs such as Dynamos, Caps United, Highlanders, Black Rhinos, Chapungu and Chicken Inn have enjoyed assistance from big corporates, the Chinda Boys continue to struggle.

It is clear that Shabanie's potential has always been looked down upon for they have learnt to survive on their own means.

Is it that the club chiefs have not done enough to lure big corporates in their corner?

"The club executive has been working hard to bring in a sponsor, but the situation needs all the sons of this small mining community, businessmen and women to help out," said club secretary-general Maxwell Nyashanu.

"This team is meant to be a Zvishavane project. Shabanie is one of the most supported teams in the Premier Soccer League and that passion that drives this club rests in the community.

"Perhaps the club is just meant to die. Without a doubt this club has united this community, but of late the same community and corporate organisations have turned a blind eye on the plight of this club," he said.

Sixteen games into this season, Chiragwi quit as coach after enduring a terrible one-and-a-half season spell.

David Temwanjira, the league's top goal-scorer, was with Shabanie until last month when he moved to ZPC Kariba in search of greener pastures.

Nine players could no longer endure playing on empty stomachs and also abandoned the ship.

And now in 17th position on the log table, fate seems to be finally catching up with Shabanie.