Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
ZIFA Northern Region Soccer League title-chasers Agama are digging in to keep their star player Tinashe Balakasi ahead of the resumption of the marathon next month.
The Mt Darwin side are level on 41 points with N’ombeyawora.
After replacing veteran coach Arthur Tutani with Paul “Popopo” Chimalinzeni following an indifferent start to the season, the ambitious team can’t afford to touch the heartbeat of the team.
Balakasi, a well-known veteran of the first division matrixes, who joined from Premiership champions Simba Bhora, is a prime target for flamboyant Central Region Soccer League side Hardrock who are battling their own race to get promoted.
They are in a hot contest with Sheasham who are in the driving seat and determined to return to the top-flight. And they are understood to have dangled a huge carrot to land the lanky marksman.
But Agama are having none of it.
Balakasi refused to dwell into the transfer topic but instead reassured the Agama fans that he will be up for the task at the resumption.
“The NRSL is a huge battle. It is one of the most competitive leagues across the country.
You can’t say this is an easy opponent or what. Everyone matters, that is how I can describe the competition in this league. “I just want to do what I was signed for. Agama is a team whose vision resonates well with mine. The fans love to see us doing well and we don’t have to disappoint them.
“We are just recharging our batteries and come the resumption, we will be in a beast mode.
‘‘We are never going to mince our words. Promotion is what we are aiming for. It’s that simple.
“Of course there are teams like N’ombeyawora, Black Rhinos, Golden Eagles and Harare City who can be very unpredictable and going for the same ball but we want to hit it first.”
Bongani Ndlovu