The newly formed Tshakhuma RO Na Ndilani will be campaigning in the Absa Premiership Division in four years' time if the words of the team's sponsor, Mr Mathakha Madzivhandila's, are anything to go by.
The club is a product of the merging of Tshakhuma Na Ndilani FC and Tshakhuma RO United.
Madzivhandila revealed that he approached the management of the two teams three months ago and requested them to close ranks and form one strong team that can be campaigning in the elite division within a short space of time. Madzivhandila, who is the founder and owner of the Vibe and Jive Brands Company, said that he had pledged that his company will sponsor the team if the two clubs agreed to merge.
The new club was finally officially launched at the Tshakhuma Malaria ground last Sunday. The team played against Mutandani Pull Together in their rehearsal match. Tshakhuma beat Pull Together 3-0 to prove that they were ready for the activities of the new season which start this weekend. Madzivhandila also indicated that it will be a 100% sponsorship which covers transport for the team and the payment of referees.
When asked why he decided to channel some of his company's income towards the development of football, Madzivhandila said that he played football in his younger days and that he then experienced how difficult it was for the club officials to run a team without sponsorship. "Above all, it is my company's policy to plough back a part of the company's income to the community, hence the sponsorship," he said.
The former general manager for Joe Maweja FC, Mr Mukondeleli Nemavhulani, is the Chief Operations Officer of the club, while Mr Mashudu "Coolio" Ndou is the team's head coach. Ndou was the head coach of the ABC Motsepe League side, Madridtas FC, last season.