Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TINASHE BALAKASI yesterday said Agama should fight tooth and nail to see to it that his scoring prowess will not be in vain at the end of the Northern Region Soccer League 2025 championship marathon.
The gangly forward grabbed a brace at the weekend to floor Karoi United and ensure the Mt Darwin outfit maintained a single point’s gap behind leaders N’ombeyawora in the promotion race.
Balakasi’s brace also propelled him into the Golden Boot leaderboard along with N’ombeyawora’s Russel Chifura with 12 goals in 29 games. While Balakasi, who holds the NRSL all-time record of 29 goals in a single season having posted the numbers in 2022 while with Simba Bhora, is easily the favourite to win the Golden Boot, he stressed that the individual honour would mean nothing if Agama fail to clip the promotion ticket.
“I love scoring and it is what I am doing, of course thanks to my teammates who supply the ball always,’’ Balakasi said.
“But I am honestly not so much interested in winning the Golden Boot accolade but rather seeing Agama getting promoted.
Agama are looking to emulate Simba Bhora who are also from Mashonaland Central and become the first team from Mt Darwin to play in the elite league.
“It is the talk of the town in Mt Darwin with our passionate supporters and residents always discussing about that prospect.
“I am very happy to be scoring but if you look at my numbers, I am not always on the score sheet. I am working more for the team with whoever gets the chance scoring for the good of the team.
“Ours is a collective effort as a team. We are very much aware of the need for us to raise the standards and match the expectations of our community.
“So, for me either to score or not, I know I have a huge responsibility to help Agama win promotion.” Agama’s resurgence and title push coincided with the arrival of veteran coach Paul “Popopo’’ Chimalizeni.
They have won their last four matches to take their tally to 65 points, one behind the Mabvuku pacesetters going into the last nine games of the season.
Agama travel to Norton this afternoon for a date against unpredictable MWOS U19 at Ngoni Stadium.
“This is the run-in and there are no easy games at all,” said Balakasi.
“MWOS U-19 is a tricky customer and every team in the league can attest to that. They have very good youngsters and do not lack seasoned players as well.
“We are taking each game with both caution and a lot of fight. We are second in the league and the goal is to be first. How then does that happen?
“It’s simple. We have nothing to really lose. We should be ruthless going on the offence and pocket every available point. But we are fully alive to the fact that every team also need the points at this juncture.
We will be cautious but never restrictive and conservative. We know what we need and we should play with that in mind.”
Elsewhere N’ombeyawora host Black Mambas in yet another tricky tie at the Heart Stadium while third-placed Golden Eagles entertain Chinhoyi Stars at Ellis Robins.
NRSL Fixtures:
Today (All matches start at 2pm unless stated)
Shamva Mine v Trojan Stars (Shamva Mine 12pm)
Golden Eagles v Chinhoyi Stars (Ellis Robins)
PAM v Ali Sundowns (Muriel Mine)
MWOS U-19 v Agama (Ngoni 3pm)
Zambezi G & C v Chegutu Pirates (Centenary Sports Club 3pm)
Harare City v Chinhoyi Rangers (Gwanzura)
N’ombeyawora v Black Mambas (The Heart)
Ngezi U19 v FC Oden (Baobab)
Black Rhinos v Cranborne Bullets (Commando Barracks 3pm)
Karoi United v Banket United (Chikangwe 3pm)
