Ambitious Hartley plan ahead… UK based owner appeals for sponsorship

By Percival Sizara

HARARE – It appears Hartley Academy are already making plans for the 2016 Premiership season with the announcement that the club will relocate to Masvingo should they clinch the Eastern Region Championship.

Hartley Academy, on 53 points, head the Eastern Region title race with just two points ahead of Mutare City Rovers and Masvingo City who each have 51 points.

It’s still a tight race to the finishing line with Masvingo United (50 points ), Tenax and Mutoko Traders each having 48 points with eight games to go.

However Hartley Academy sense they could be in it and so have began making early preparations by plotting to use Mucheke Stadium as their official Premiership venue.

“It’s also good news to Masvingo residents as we will play there as our home ground if we attain PSL status,” head coach Takura Shariwa said.

“Hartley Academy is owned by Phil Makekera who hails from Gutu and coached by me and I come from Mashava. We are Victorians and wish to repay homage to our place of origin.”

Should this happen, it will be Hartley academy’s fourth adopted place thus making them a roving club. Upon its formation, Hartley Academy owner Phil Makekera said his intention was to bring elite football to Chegutu hence the colonial name, Hartley.

Then the club switched to Chitungwiza where they played some games at Chibuku Stadium before making Motor Action Stadium in Harare their other venue until now.

Makekera told Nehanda Radio that he was looking for both partners and sponsors to help take their vision to another level. “We are inviting anyone who is willing to partner us and promote their brand by associating with the team.”

The UK based businessman said “we are appealing to anyone who is in Zimbabwe, England, America or wherever, as long as they are passionate about football. We are looking at getting team kits, boots, match day sponsorship and salaries for the players.”

Meanwhile, Hartley Academy’s top position is now at risk after they were held to a goalless draw with bottom placed Mutare Polytechnic. The coach Shariwa said;

“It’s a point gained rather than two lost. We have been on the apex for more than three months and basement teams are party spoilers. Mutare Poly Played brilliantly but we rue chances we missed. It’s very encouraging that we created numerous chances though the pitch was an impediment.

“This allowed Mutare City Rovers and Masvingo City to close in while Masvingo United suffered a setback having been held to a two – all draw at Gutu and for this slipped to fourth position. We will soldier on and hopefully our rivals falter along the way,” he said.

Meanwhile the Central Soccer League is also on fire with fortune seemingly swaying in Border Strikers’ way as they only need one point to snatch the championship and bring Premiership back in Beitbridge.

With four games to go, Border Strikers’ rivals Tongogara and ZPC Munyati (both 45 points) can have maximum of 12 points which will take them to 57 points to be at par with the leaders.

This will translate to Border Strikers just requiring at least one point to be the third Division One side to qualify for the Premiership. Ngezi Platinum and Bulawayo City are already champions in the Northern Region Soccer League and Southern Region.