Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ALI Sundowns have found themselves struggling to keep their heads above water in the Northern Region Soccer League matrix.
After smashing records in the third-tier last season, the Mabvuku team were expected to shine in the NRSL.
But things haven’t gone their way as they sit in 19th place on the 20-team league with 28 points, in as many games.
They look poised to drop but one of their coaches Godknows Dzangare sees a lot of reasons to remain positive.
Just days after suffering a 2-0 defeat to MWOS U19 in a tough relegation showdown, Dzangare said:
“The good thing is that we have played all our matches that we consider to be 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.”
With 28 points to their name, Ali Sundowns are just five points from Chinhoyi Rangers, who are 11th on the standings.
“That is why we still believe we will survive. If you closely look at the points’ difference among 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. 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.”
