Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ALI Sundowns are clinging to hope as they fight to stay in the Northern Region Soccer League.
The Mabvuku side stormed through the third tier last season, but the jump in class has left them one place off the bottom of the 20-team log with 28 points from as many matches.
Coach Godknows Dzangare insists all is not lost.
Speaking after a 2-0 defeat to MWOS U19 in a tense relegation scrap, he said: “The good thing is that we have played all our matches that we consider to be big, against tough opponents.
“The remaining 10 games are sort of 50-50 games from the way we see them. Those are the games that we should be winning because we are playing against teams that are more or less like us in terms of strength.
“It’s those teams which are within our points’ zone and also battling against relegation. That is why I am so optimistic about our survival prospects. We know we have that fighting chance and we believe we will survive.”
Ali Sundowns are just five points behind Chinhoyi Rangers in 11th place. Dzangare believes that narrow gap, plus the 30 points still on offer, keeps their season alive.
“That is why we still believe we will survive. If you closely look at the points’ difference amongst the teams in the Bottom 10, you will see that just six, seven points separate the team on Number 11 and the one on Number 20.
“There are still 10 games to be played and that’s what matters. Ten games and 30 points to play for in the league. We are certainly going to fight for our lives,” he said.
The coach credits a change in mindset for a recent lift in performances. “We acknowledge that we haven’t been doing well. But the way our boys are playing now, their attitude and general mentality point to the direction that we want to move.
“We have done a lot of mental coaching on them just like we have done the technical part. We are really impressed with how the players have responded. It’s looking very good. Honestly speaking I think we stand a chance but we must keep focused and be specific in the way we play.”
The relegation contest is as fierce as the title race led by N’ombeyawora and Agama.
Even Shamva Mine, bottom on 26 points, can still overtake mid-table Chinhoyi Rangers, underscoring how tight the lower half of the table has become with 10 rounds to go.
