Zambezi G&C FC’s fight for survival in the MCM-ESTATES Northern Region Soccer League has received a timely boost, with improved financial incentives helping to restore confidence in a team that endured six months without salaries and winning bonuses.
The introduction of a US$200 winning bonus, following the intervention of former Black Rhinos chairperson and Mutukwa Academy founder Colonel Edward Mutukwa, has brought renewed motivation to the Zambezi G&C camp as the club battles to preserve its Division One status.
For a team that spent much of the 2026 season struggling financially, the intervention appears to be making a difference, with head coach John Mandaza acknowledging the difficulties the club faced before the assistance arrived.
“We went for six months without any money and winning bonuses,” said Mandaza.
The financial challenges had placed the club in a difficult position, but the improved incentives have given the players added motivation to fight for results at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Zambezi G&C demonstrated their renewed determination with a 2-1 victory over Golden Eagles at Ellis Robin in a midweek fixture, a result that lifted the team out of the relegation zone into 16th position on the Northern Region league table.
Mandaza believes the support has played an important role in the team’s improved performances, highlighting the impact of rewarding players and ensuring they have the necessary conditions to deliver on the pitch.
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“Now we are getting results because someone is helping us, giving us winning bonuses and everything,” he said.
The coach also emphasised the importance of proper preparation and accommodation, suggesting that player welfare remains central to the club’s turnaround.
“When we are camping, we camp at nice places. As you see, football is all about giving the kid what he needs for him to deliver,” Mandaza added.
The US$200 winning bonus is also significant in the context of the Northern Region Division One league, where winning bonuses at many clubs reportedly range between US$50 and US$130.
However, while the financial intervention has improved the atmosphere around the team, Zambezi G&C still face a difficult task in their quest for survival.
The club has 43 points, just two ahead of Banket United, who sit in the position marking the beginning of the relegation zone with 41 points. The narrow gap leaves little room for complacency, meaning every remaining fixture could prove decisive.
With four games remaining, Zambezi G&C’s immediate challenge is to turn their renewed motivation into consistent results and create a safe distance between themselves and the relegation places.
Colonel Mutukwa’s intervention may have provided the club with the financial relief it desperately needed, but the ultimate test will be whether the renewed support translates into enough points to secure its place in the league.
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