By Tapiwa Chawagarira
RUSAPE — Africa Mineral Ventures (AMV) Football Club president George Padule has broken his silence on the turmoil surrounding the ambitious Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League side, insisting that the Rusape-based outfit is not drowning in debt but is instead undergoing a deliberate restructuring that will see the club shift its focus towards young players.
Padule told NewZiana in a telephone interview that recent reports portraying AMV as a financially troubled club had been exaggerated, saying he had deliberately reduced the level of spending and privileges previously enjoyed by senior players after the club’s promotion ambitions began to fade.
According to Padule, the change in approach should not be interpreted as a financial collapse but rather as a strategic decision to stop spending heavily on a campaign in which AMV is no longer realistically pursuing the Eastern Region’s sole ticket to the Premier Soccer League.
“When I was pushing for the PSL, I was pampering the players and doing everything possible to make them comfortable,” Padule said.
“But now that we are no longer in the race for the sole ticket, I have taken a step back. That does not mean the club is in debt. It means we are changing the way we operate.”
AMV entered the 2026 campaign with considerable expectations after assembling a squad featuring experienced players and former top-flight names, with the club openly targeting promotion.
The Eastern Boys made an emphatic start, defeating Manica Diamonds Under-19 4-0 in their opening league match, while reports described the club as one of the leading promotion contenders.
The club subsequently remained among the leading sides as the season progressed, collecting important victories to stay in contention at the top end of the standings.
However, with the promotion race becoming increasingly difficult, Padule said the club’s priorities had now changed.
The president said AMV would increasingly turn to Under-23 players, a policy that was already becoming evident in recent matches as younger players were given opportunities in the first team.
The change was evident in Wednesday’s midweek fixture, when a significantly younger side was fielded, underlining the club’s intention to begin building for the future rather than continue relying heavily on established senior players.
Padule said the club was also preparing to introduce an Under-19 side next season, with plans to participate in various leagues sponsored under the AMV brand.
He said the development programme would extend beyond the current squad, with AMV Under-23 players expected to participate in a month-long tournament in the United Kingdom around December and January.
Padule also revealed plans to incorporate junior players from Rusununguko High School into the club’s development structures, signalling a broader attempt to create a pathway from school football into the senior game.
The restructuring, however, could have consequences for some of the club’s experienced players.
Padule dismissed claims that AMV was refusing to pay player arrears, saying contractual obligations would be honoured when senior players above the age of 23 were released as the club moves towards its youth-oriented model.
“I don’t owe players what is being said out there. When we terminate the contracts of the senior players, we will meet our contractual obligations,” he said.
The president’s comments come against the backdrop of growing controversy surrounding the club, particularly its relationship with the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League executive.
Padule said he was unhappy with the league authorities’ handling of AMV’s recent away fixture against Power FC at Gaths Mine.
He alleged that there was noise and chaos surrounding the match, with players and the team bus reportedly being stoned.
There were also allegations surrounding the duration of the match, with claims circulating that the game lasted about 65 minutes. However, no official report from the match officials confirming the allegation had been obtained by NewZiana at the time of going to print.
Padule said the incident left him convinced that his players and officials were not adequately protected.
He said AMV’s decision to use a minibus for some away assignments was therefore both a protest against what he regarded as the league executive’s failure to protect the club and a security precaution.
The move has become one of the most visible signs of the growing tension between AMV and the league authorities.
Padule also rejected reports that AMV’s buses had been repossessed because of unpaid obligations.
He said the vehicles remained under the club’s control and provided NewZiana with a photograph and screenshot showing where the buses were parked.
“Nothing was repossessed,” Padule said.
“The buses are there. We have taken this position because of what happened and because we don’t feel protected when we travel.”
He said the club would primarily use the buses for home matches while reviewing its arrangements for away games.
The safety dispute has added another dimension to what has already been a difficult period for the club.
Padule also acknowledged that rumours concerning alleged match-fixing had circulated within the AMV camp.
He said the rumours involved both some senior players and members of the technical team, but stressed that no evidence had so far been established to substantiate the allegations.
“There were rumours of match-fixing from both senior players and the technical team, but no proof has been found,” he said.
At the same time, Padule admitted that the club’s sizeable investment had increased his expectations and frustration when results failed to match the resources committed.
He said there had been matches in which AMV’s performances and results had fallen short despite significant investment in the team.
The revelations paint a picture of a club moving away from the immediate promotion-driven model with which it entered the 2026 season and towards a longer-term player-development project.
AMV’s transformation comes as the Eastern Region title race enters its closing stages, with Yadah having established itself as the leading contender and several clubs battling for positions behind the leaders.
For Padule, however, the emphasis is now shifting from an expensive, immediate promotion campaign to developing young footballers who can form the backbone of AMV in the coming seasons.
The planned Under-23 and Under-19 structures, the proposed United Kingdom tournament and the intended link with Rusununguko High School are all part of that vision.
But while AMV prepares for its youth revolution, Padule’s biggest immediate challenge could be repairing the club’s relationship with the league authorities and addressing the security concerns that have dominated the latest chapter of the AMV story.
