Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOLLOWING a false start that was largely centred on boardroom battles, the 2026 MCM Estates Northern Region Soccer League season is set for an explosive start this weekend with the pick of the Match-Day One programme being the crunch battle of army sides Cranborne Bullets and Black Rhinos at Commando Bar-racks on Sunday.
Perennial campaigners Harare City will get the term rolling when they host CP Chemicals at Motor Action Sports Club tomorrow.
The Sunshine Boys have been trying without success to return to the Premiership and will be fancying their chances this year.
But it is in the army sides Bullets and Rhinos where there is an air of optimism swirling after they were boosted by sponsorship deals they secured during the off-season break.
Bullets coach Gift Muzire is expecting a fierce contest against their “elder brothers’’ Rhinos.
Muzire told Zimpapers Sports Hub that he was aware of the difficulty of the assignment at hand but issued a stern warning to the Rhinos camp, insisting his side is prepared to fight for a positive result.
“It’s going to be difficult since we are playing our elder brother but I can only promise that we will fight with everything we have so that we come out with a positive result.
“They must come prepared for a tough game this week,” Muzire said.
Muzire, who previously worked alongside several members of the Rhinos technical department, made it clear that respect for familiar faces will be set aside once the match gets underway.
“I have all the respect for the technical team of Rhinos because I once worked with most of them from the head coach, they are good coaches,” he said.
“But for this game, they must expect anything starting with disappointment.”
The “army derby’’, traditionally one of the most fiercely contested fixtures on the NRSL calendar, promises to set an early marker for both clubs as they embark on their respective campaigns on the back of some financial stability.
Fixtures:
Tomorrow: Harare City Vs CP Chemicals (Motor Action Callies Sports Club)
Saturday: FC Oden vs Rangers (Chinhoyi Stadium), MWOS U19 vs PAM (Ngoni Stadium), Highrange vs Karoi United (Gwanzura Stadium), Shamva Mine vs Batanai (Shamva Mine Stadium), Zambezi G&C vs Black Mambas (Centenary Sports Club)
Sunday: Chegutu Pirates vs Golden Eagles (Pfupajena Stadium), Jumbo Giants vs G & T Mine (Mazowe Stadium), Cranborne Bullets vs Black Rhinos (Commando Barracks Stadium), Banket United vs Ngezi U19 (Kuwadzana Stadium), Marere vs Chingwere (Rimuka Stadium)
