By Flata Kavinga
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube has urged players of newly promoted Premier Soccer League side Hardrock Football Club to shun drug and substance abuse, warning that it can derail promising careers.
Speaking at the club’s kit unveiling ceremony in Kwekwe, Ncube said discipline on and off the pitch would be key to the team’s success in the top flight.
He cautioned that many athletes with potential have seen their careers cut short due to substance abuse, adding that footballers should remain focused and uphold professionalism.
“Many promising players had premature exits from the game due to drug and substance abuse,” he said, urging the squad to prioritise their health and performance.
Hardrock FC, which secured promotion after winning the Division One Southern Region championship title, becomes one of the Midlands province’s representatives in the top tier.
Ncube congratulated the club for the achievement and said its presence in the league would boost sport development in the province.
The minister also commended the club’s leadership for investing in football and youth development, noting that sport can create economic opportunities and inspire young people.
Hardrock FC officials said the new kit symbolises a fresh chapter for the club as it prepares for its debut season in the Premier Soccer League.
The ceremony drew local football stakeholders, supporters and community leaders, who expressed optimism that the team’s promotion will raise the profile of football in Kwekwe and the wider Midlands province.
