MUTARE City Rovers’ players had to use their own money for bus fare from Zvishavane and by Wednesday afternoon most of them were yet to be reimbursed.

The same applies to the winning bonuses from last weekend’s match which were still to be disbursed at the time of going to Press as the well pronounced financial challenges at Gusha Bhora deepen with each passing week.

Although the sole Manicaland based Premiership outfit defied the odds and snatched the all-important maximum points away at Zvishavane at Maglas Stadium up against Border Strikers last weekend, morale is at all time low at Mutare City Rovers ahead of Sunday’s Castle Lager Premiership tie against How Mine at Sakubva Stadium.

Only last week, Post Sport revealed that players only got a meagre $10 stipend and a sachet of maheu after a relatively well attended match against Dynamos.

Today, we can also reveal that Gusha Bhora, as the club is fondly referred to by their fans, had to travel in batches back home using public transport after their hired kombi broke down in Midlands, with some players using their own money to pay for transport.

As if that was not enough, some players were still owed their transport money used form Zvishavane, let alone the winning bonuses from the match against Border Strikers.

“It is sad that it appears we are playing football for people who do not show appreciation for our efforts. Some of us used our own money for bus fare from Zvishavane and we are yet to be paid back. We shall not talk about winning bonuses and other incentives. This is just not fair,” said one player who cannot be named as he is not entitled to speak to the media.

Such is the dire financial situation that Mutare City Rovers finds itself in as the club trudges on in the fight against relegation.

This comes against the backdrop that most of the players were paid a paltry  $100 sign on fee at the start of the season at a time when other clubs in the same league that are not so well resourced are paying nothing less than $1 000 in sign on fees for players.

Mutare City Rovers’ secretary, Sammy Kabwe, said the club understands the need to move with speed to engage the corporate community, but also urged the local business entities to render support in any way.

“It is common knowledge that we are struggling financially and we understand the need to move with speed to engage the corporate community. We are doing our best and we will continue engaging them (the corporate community) at various levels and forums.

“However, it is also imperative to note that the local corporate community also needs to chip in with any form of assistance for the club.

“It needs no reminder that this is the only club that we currently have in the Premiership and its performance and well welfare reflect the kind of people that we are as a people of Manicaland.

“We seriously need to give it a thought and have a change of heart especially on the part of the business community. We cannot afford to slow the tempo, the team has improved in its play and it also time we try and motivate them financially,” said Kabwe.