Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AGAMA forward Tinashe Balakasi has called on his teammates to retain maximum concentration levels when they host Northern Region Soccer League log leaders N’ombeyawora at Pfura this afternoon.
The Mt Darwin club are two points behind the Mabvuku side and they know they should clip them to avoid falling five points further.
Balakasi, a seasoned NRSL campaigner having won the Soccer Star of the Year after leading Simba Bhora to the championship in 2022, started the term on a low note.
But he seems to have found his mojo after scoring three goals in the past four games, and he is certainly one of the players who could decide today’s match.
That Agama can go a point to the good should they find a way past their guests is a source of inspiration for the lanky forward and the entire Mt Darwin community.
“Yes, this is a very big game when you look at it. We are only two points behind N’ombeyawora and we can be a point above them if we win the match at Pfura,” said Balakasi.
“But they can stretch further away from us if we allow them to win the match. That’s how permutations are like going into the game.
“It makes this match even more enticing for the supporters who have always poured into the stadium whenever we are playing at Pfura.
“The competition in the league is very tough. We started slowly, but we are picking up, and what we need to do is to double down in our consistency. We definitely have to win games consistently if we harbour ambitious targets in this league.”
There are several interesting match-ups in the NRSL this mid-week with second-placed Zambezi G&C visiting Trojan Stars in a Mashonaland Central derby at Trojan Mine, which is expected to be a closely fought contest.
Both Harare City and Black Rhinos are dark horses in this campaign and whoever works out the right formula to pick up the maximum points when they face-off at the Heart Stadium will have given themselves a positive spring going forward.
Elsewhere, Banket United hosts Shamva Mine at Kuwadzana, while Cranborne Bullets are at Commando against PAM.
Fixtures (3pm):
Today: Agama v N’ombeyawora (Pfura),
Banket United v Shamva Mine (Kuwadzana),
Trojan Stars v Zambezi G&C (Trojan), Black Rhinos v Harare City (Heart), Cranborne Bullets v PAM (Commando Barracks), Ali Sundowns v MWOS (Gwanzura), FC Oden v Karoi United (Chinhoyi), Chegutu Pirates v Chinhoyi Stars (Pfupajena), Black Mambas v Golden Eagles (Mkushi)
Tomorrow: (Chinhoyi Rangers v Ngezi U19 (Chinhoyi)
