Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
CHEGUTU Pirates are yet to register with the Premier Soccer League, just days before the 2024 campaign gets underway this weekend.
Zaire have not yet finalised their squad.
This has affected their pre-season preparations and coach, Day Gutu is disappointed as time is running out.
“Slow, sluggish are the best terms I can use to describe our preparations for PSL, there is a lot happening behind the scenes which is beyond our control but, hopefully, we will get it right,” he said.
“It is like when the desirable is not available, the available then becomes the desirable. I wanted certain players but I ended up retaining the bulk of the players that did the job in Division One.
“However, that was not my wish.”
They have roped in veterans Arnold Mkhuli from Green Fuel, Tafadzwa Jabangwe, a former Cranborne Bullets player and Tinotenda Chiunye from Botswana Premier League side Tafic.
“We also have three boys from the Ngezi developmental side, one from Trojan and one from Gwanda.
“It is generally a mixed bag of Division One material that I have to play around with.”
His mandate, he said, was to survive the chop at the end of the season.
However, based on the resources that he has, Gutu knows that it will not be easy to achieve his target.
To add to their woes, the Pirates are yet to know which stadium they will be using as their home ground.
They have so far listed Norton’s Ngoni Stadium, Baobab and Rufaro as their preferences.
“Our desire is to stay in the elite league, we want to survive so we will do our best,” he said.
“I know it is going to be a tough journey, I have no regrets working with the boys who brought us this far but we really needed to boost the major areas with experienced guys.
“However, some would come, train for two or so weeks but because contracts could not be availed in time, they would leave.”
