By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Masvingo– Masvingo United’s come back is being anticipated for by the Masvingo soccer community.
Nine years have gone by without their participation in the Premier Soccer League.
In their Southern Region division one title race, the team is placed at third position with a total of 53 points; 12 points behind the leading team, Tenax FC.
Teams from Manicaland are the ones who seem bedominant as they are the ones gaining promotion in the PSL with Manica Diamonds and Mutare City having been promoted in the last two seasons.
In the previous year’s, Mucheke Stadium was the place to be as people of Masvingo came to watch the team play when it was still in the top flight league.
Its relegation has marked the end of PSL matches inthe ancient city.
Masvingo United was at the epitome of the people of Masvingo and they have long waited for the promotion of the team in the PSL and are now tired of moving to different cities to witness Premier league action.
Masvingo United recently merge with their arch rivals Masvingo Pirates to form one strong team in a bid to gain promotion. The emerging of the teams did bring a change for the squad and the community became convinced that the team was going to be promoted, but alas all hopes have been lost as the team is 12 points behind the leading team.
The Masvingo soccer community has laid its hopes on the team and is asking themselves the same question if Masvingo United will make it back to the PSL.
There have been a number of reasons why the team has failed to realize its full potential and lack of sponsorship has been attributed to be chief amongst. The team has fallen on the mercy of different sponsors after the Mhunga family abandoned the team but to due to the economy it has not been easy for the team.
Since 2005 Masvingo United landed among the top four best performing clubs in Zimbabwe. In 2005, the team almost took the Cup but lost to Caps United and finished at second position.
The following year, the team was placed at third position. Masvingo united is known for acquiring a number of trophies while they played in the league. In 2002 and 2005, they won the ZIFA Unity Cup. 2006 and 2007 they won the Zimbabwe independence trophy and in 2005 they won the OK Woza Bhora.
