Chihota Division Three soccer league team, Hardbody Football Club, which is sitting in the middle of the
log table is proving to be a thorn in the flesh for big teams in the same league by performing some of the
major giant killing acts.
The youthful bunch of determined youngsters stationed at Gunda Village near Farirayi shops, just a
stone’s throw away from Mahusekwa growth point have caught the imagination of many neutrals in the
soccer crazy Chihota area, defying financial hurdles they face to prevail over third placed Chipembere in
a league match played recently.
They handed over Chipembere their second defeat in 18 matches.
The had earlier claimed the sculps of second-placed Eastern Bombers as well as pace setters St Lucy.
This is quite a remarkable feat given that the team does not have a coach, a sponsor, but relies on hand
outs from local villagers chief among them their most local supporter, Fayton Muzambi who has made
sure that the youthful side marches on in the taxing, unbranded, but yet very exciting league.
One wonders how they have managed do what others teams have failed to do given such a background.
Muzambi reckons that their never say die spirit prevails is the answer.
As you might be aware, we always struggle financially, just like many other clubs in this league, but the
desire to see these guys playing among the best local teams, and to possibly get promotion into top
leagues, keeps us going.
“The boys have been making us proud especially during the second half of the season, and had we been
consistent enough, who knows where we might have been at the moment added a visibly elated
Muzambi after watching his team matching St Lucy FC pound for pound before handing them a painful
defeat.
Second placed Bombers visited Hardbody with a hundred percent unbeaten record, facing a poorly
performing Hardbody, but had to fight for a draw after being led 2-0 at halftime in an exciting
encounter.
Next, it was Chipembere who were sitting on third position following a good run of form, accompanied
by their intimidating travelling supporters, but were tragically stunned by a vintage performance by the
determined home team.
Most recently leaders St Lucy saw their impressive 17 match unbeaten run going up in smoke at the
hands of a stubborn Hardbody team, going down 2-1.
Hardbody’s main weakness is probably their inconsistency in form as they seemingly concentrate more
on the big teams, yet surrender easily against other teams.
Blessed with some talented youngsters like Munashe and Takudzwa Muzambi, Liberty Manyenga, who
scored a spectacular 40 metre drive against St Lucy, Tafadzwa Chuma, the experience of Killian Chihota,
Ronald Herbert and Aaron Muzambi.
This team can go places, with good technical guidance, a sound financial support and good
administration.
Maybe, if the business community around Chihota and elsewhere as well as other individuals and the
corporate world intervenes and support such projects as that at Hardbody and indeed other teams, a lot
will come out of this rural-based soccer league with some of the players that can easily fit into the
grooves of any big team.
Saiberth Mukweveri is one such player.
