Fine start for Hippo Valley

Sport
NEWLY-PROMOTED Hippo Valley started their 2014 season on a high note after the club’s top players reported for duty at their first training session

NEWLY-PROMOTED Hippo Valley started their 2014 season on a high note after the club’s top players reported for duty at their first training session at Chishamiso Stadium yesterday. KENNETH NYANGANI SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

There was uncertainty over the Hippo Valley Football Club franchise after the club’s sponsors Tongaat Hulett disbanded the team arguing that they were not able to fund two Hippo Valley teams as they also sponsor Triangle.

But on Tuesday, Eastern Region administrators confirmed that the company had ceded the team to the community.

The club’s top players who helped Hippo Valley gain promotion into the PSL include their top goalscorer last season are Hillary Bakacheza, Fidelis Mangezi, Rowen Nenzou and goalkeeper Simon Kafitire.

Coach Moses Chunga spoke to our sister paper NewsDay Sport before their training session yesterday morning.

“We are going to start our training this morning (yesterday) and hopefully we are going to retain all the top players from last season,” he said.

A senior player who commented on condition of anonymity said the attendance was impressive on the first day.

“The first training session was impressive with over 25 players attending. We had finished training by 11:30am in the morning. There is unity in our camp and players believe that they need to fight for their cause,” he said.

A renowned Hippo Valley supporter Elijah Chikati said he was happy the team will finally play in the PSL next season.

“I saw the players going to training today (yesterday). I am happy with this development because we will no longer travel to Triangle to watch PSL matches as we now have our own team,” he added.

Meanwhile, a scheduled meeting to appoint new Hippo Valley executive members was due to be held last night.